Abstract: A fixed support includes an elevated foot platform and one or more handles allowing a live person to stand on the elevated foot platform, and a background member configured to receive a portion of the fixed support and support a cutout image of a person substantially orthogonal to the live person standing on the foot platform. A picture of the live person standing on the foot platform along with the background creates the illusion in the photograph that the cutout image of the person is levitating the live person standing on the foot platform.

Abstract: A transparent performance apparatus allows a wide variety of acrobatic performances to be performed, while also providing an unobstructed view of a performer. The apparatus may comprise a circular transparent body having an opening therein. The body may be sized to accommodate at least the height of a performer such that the performer may position him or herself within the opening of the body. The transparency of the body allows an unobstructed view of the performer. An outer surface may be curved to allow the apparatus to be more easily moved on a stage or other surface. In addition, the inner surface formed by the opening may be curved to allow a performer to control the motion of the apparatus during a performance.

Abstract: A track dog with removable parts. Embodiments describe one or more of the following features. In one embodiment, the size of the receiver for the knife shaped piece can be variable. Another embodiment describes an improved technique of holding the cable that is run under the floor. Yet another embodiment describes a device where the cable attachment mechanism are set in a location that line up with the openings in the floor to allow tightening without opening the floor. Another aspect describes a special through hole so that cable can be run through the device, e.g., to connect to another track dog.

Abstract: A conjurer's kit is disclosed that comprises a box comprising a plurality of walls enclosing an interior wherein one of the front walls of the box has a display opening. The walls have black inside surfaces. The box defines a hiding space between a rear wall and a partitioning wall. The partitioning wall has a height smaller than the interior height of the box. The box has a bottom cover that covers the bottom of the hiding space and is made of a soft material such as foam or sponge or carpet. The box has at least one partly black outer surface such as a hollow cone with a black outer surface or an object having one black half or a playing card having a black back.

Abstract: A miniature spooling apparatus is described. The miniature spooling apparatus includes a housing having a miniature motor attached within the housing. The miniature motor has an axle extending therefrom, with a mechanically powered miniature spool attached with the axle. The miniature spool includes a top portion having a tapered indentation formed circumferentially around the top portion, and a bottom portion having slits formed therein. The slits intersect one another at a point of intersection to form an axle receptacle for receiving the axle from the miniature motor.

Abstract: A miniature spooling apparatus is described. The miniature spooling apparatus includes a housing having a miniature motor attached within the housing. The miniature motor has a shaft extending therefrom, with a mechanically powered spool attached with the shaft. A magnet is connected with the shaft and/or the spool. An integrated circuit is connected with the motor to operate the motor. Additionally, a magnetic reed switch is connected with the integrated circuit such that as a user pulls the thread and manually rotates the item, the magnet rotates to actuate the magnetic reed switch which is connected with the integrated circuit, thereby initiating the motor to start winding the thread around the spool. When the spool is still for a predetermined amount of time, the integrated circuit is configured to turn off the motor. Additionally, the miniature spooling apparatus is housed in an item, such as a pen, to conceal the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides the illusion that an elastic apparatus is hooked from within a base unit, wherein actually hooking the elastic apparatus is virtually impossible. An opposite end of a rod is inserted at least partway into a hole of a base unit using the handle end of the rod. The base unit gives the appearance that the elastic device is attached to and extending within the hole thereof. The inserted opposite end of the rod is then pulled partially out of the base unit. But before the opposite end of the rod is exposed in viewable sight, two of a user's fingers are pressed together on substantially opposing sides of the handle end in order to forcibly snap the rod back into the base unit giving the illusion that the rod slipped from the user's fingers due to an opposing force from the elastic apparatus.

Abstract: A miniature electrically powered thread reel and precision spooling mechanism fully and discretely hidden inside the cap of a working ink pen. Primarily intended for use by magicians during routines that require a super-thin thread be used for secretly controlling the motion of small objects. The device is completely self-contained and internally houses all necessary components required for normal and reliable functioning. The reel mechanism consists of a spool, spool-cap, motor, motor-housing, switch, battery, electrical contacts, and connective wiring. The main body of the pen is split into two primary sections and is retractable in length. This specialized body configuration is required because the cap contains the reel mechanism, and as a result is not hollow like an ordinary pen cap, so the body of the pen is segmented allowing the halves to slide together.

Abstract: A magic trick device and method are set forth to provide the illusion of a performer inserting a cigarette into his nostril. The device includes a body with a slidable sleeve and a pull tether to withdraw the device into a coat sleeve, vest or shirt.

Abstract: A magic trick in which one of two perpendicularly extending subjects vanishes behind a lenticular screen while the other subject remains visible and extends over aligned locations formerly occupied by portions of the one subject. The screen has parallel lenticules. One subject is an upright human figure, living creature or other vertically extending article, printed or live, and adjacent the second subject which is a series of printed horizontal parallel stripes or solid bars/wires forming a background for the first subject. The subjects can form scenery on a stage or be on the inside back cover of a book with the screen mounted across the front.

Abstract: A kit for supplying reindeer food to Santa's reindeer, comprising an article to be filled with a plurality of reindeer food and hoofprint maker for making hoofprints to indicate the reindeer having eaten the reindeer food. A kit for supplying food to the Easter bunny, comprising container to be filled with a plurality of food for the Easter bunny, pawprint maker indicating that the Easter bunny has visited; and bunny fur to indicate the Easter bunny has visited.

Abstract: In a live-action theater, a catapult launches a prop which achieves free flight in the theater. The catapult and prop are concealed until the moment of launch, whereupon the prop suddenly hurtles into an audience's view, and lands in front of the audience. The audience views the launch from a seating area or from a vehicle moved through the theater. The prop is for example, a seaplane or a jetski. The prop is then retrieved from the landing area using a crane or other lifter and returned to the catapult for a subsequent launch. By launching a prop in a theater with a catapult, the audience sees true free flight, rather than an illusion of flight. The audience sees no supports or other devices which can diminish the effect. A catapult allows a prop to be launched directly at the audience at a realistic or full speed, creating a more dramatic effect than if a prop is moved about some distant stage area using cables or a boom.

Abstract: A film to live-action theater includes a screen facing an audience seating area. The screen has exit and entrance openings and movable panels to open and close off the openings. A screen elevator lifts the screen from a lowered position, wherein the entrance and exit openings are concealed behind a stage, to an up position, to allow an actor and/or a prop to move through the openings. The audience views a film presentation projected onto the lowered screen. At a predetermined time, the screen is quickly raised and a live actor and/or a prop move through the screen to a front stage area, on a track. The opening of the door panels is preferably partially concealed through special effects such as fog or lighting. As the film presentation is preferably made with three dimensional film technology, the audience perceives a film-to-live transition.

Abstract: There is described a powered stage wagon comprising a chassis; rolling support structure mounted on the chassis for engagement with a surface over which the stage wagon is to move; and first drive member mounted on the chassis and in engagement with the surface. The drive member is adapted so as to be capable of being orientated in a first direction with respect to the chassis. The stage wagon also comprises second drive member mounted on the chassis and spaced from the first drive member. The second drive member is again in engagement with the surface and capable of being orientated in a second direction with respect to the chassis. Input member are provided for receiving details of a position to which the stage wagon is to move as are computing member for calculating a travel path to enable the stage wagon to move to the position. Finally control member are provided for controlling the first and second drive member so as to move the stage wagon along the travel path.

Abstract: A handling and processing apparatus for preparing Oxygen-15 labeled water (H.sub.2 [.sup.15 O]) in injectable form for use in Positron Emission Tomography from preferably H.sub.2 [.sup.15 O] produced by irradiating a flowing gas target of nitrogen and hydrogen. The apparatus includes a collector for receiving and directing a gas containing H.sub.2 [.sup.15 O] gas and impurities, mainly ammonia (NH.sub.3) gas into sterile water to trap the H.sub.2 [.sup.15 O] and form ammonium (NH.sub.4.sup.+) in the sterile water. A device for displacing the sterile water containing H.sub.2 [.sup.15 O] and NH.sub.4.sup.+ through a cation resin removes NH.sub.4.sup.+ from the sterile water. A device for combining the sterile water containing H.sub.2 [.sup.15 O] with a saline solution produces an injectable solution. Preferably, the apparatus includes a device for delivering the solution to a syringe for injection into a patient. Also, disclosed is a method for preparing H.sub.2 [.sup.

Abstract: A magic set comprises a valise containing a set of props, cue sheets and a series of illustrated sheets pivotally bound together. The case can be opened to support the sheets as an elevated, horizontally extending stack to form a stage. Successively uppermost illustrated sheets of scenery can be turned over by a magician to hang vertically from the front of the stage interacting with the illustrated sheet next uppermost to provide different scenes of a continuous magic show. Indicia marked on the illustrated sheets interact and interfit with props in the performance of tricks.

Abstract: A raining umbrella is provided as an outdoor play toy for children. Water from a hose flows up through the umbrella handle and sprays out through holes in the spokes which support the umbrella canopy to create "rain" beneath the umbrella.

Abstract: The concentration of weak acid and weak base constituents, or their soluble salts, in liquids is determined by passing succeeding samples of constant volume to a separation zone wherein target constituents are volatilized by reagents, then volatilized analytes are stripped from the liquid matrix and carried to a detection zone at a constant flow rate, wherein signals proportional to the variations in individual target analyte concentrations between succeeding samples are generated.