Compound trapeze and method of using same

Abstract

A secondary pivot adapted to interrupt the periodic motion of a trapeze so as to cause the trapeze performer to experience rotational acceleration is disclosed. The term “secondary pivot” is defined to mean a selectively engageable pivot interposed at preselected intermediate positions along the respective lengths of the suspension lines of the trapeze between their points of suspension and the trapeze bar. A compound trapeze which includes a secondary pivot is also disclosed. Methods which include a step of restraining the periodic motion of a trapeze so as to cause the trapeze performer to experience rotational acceleration are also disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to trapezes and methods of using same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A trapeze is a device that has long been associated with circuses and aerial performers. Although the rigging equipment and materials of construction have been upgraded over time, the basic design has remained the same for well over a hundred years. In general, a trapeze consists of a short bar suspended near or at its ends by suspension lines, e.g., cables, so that it is free to swing back and forth in a regular fashion. The length of bar between the suspension lines is selected to be sufficiently long to accommodate the body width of a performer. There are specialized versions of the trapeze, such as the double horizontal trapeze in which a bar which is long enough to accommodate two performers is used and a third suspension line is added at the midpoint of the bar's length. Another specialized version is the double vertical trapeze in which one trapeze is suspended from another. However, until the present invention, the trapeze has been a little more than a periodic motion swing on which aerialists performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention adds a new feature to the prior art trapeze and to the ways in which a trapeze can be used. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound trapeze consisting of a trapeze and a selectively engageable pivot interposed at preselected intermediate positions along the respective lengths of the suspension lines of the trapeze between their points of suspension and the trapeze bar. The selectively engageable pivot is referred to hereinafter and in the appended claims as a “secondary pivot.” The secondary pivot is used to selectively arrest the motion of the suspension lines between their points of suspension and the points at which the secondary pivot acts upon them so that the secondary pivot defines new pivot points for the portions of the suspension lines below the secondary pivot. When engaged, the secondary pivot interrupts the periodic motion of the trapeze midswing. This causes the trapeze bar and the performer holding onto it to angularly accelerate along an arc of suddenly shortened radius as both the effective length of the suspension lines and the period of swing of the trapeze are suddenly shortened by the restraining action of the secondary pivot. The angular acceleration gives the performer the opportunity to perform stunts which could not be performed under the constraints that the laws of physics impose on the periodic motion of an unrestrained trapeze.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a secondary pivot for use with a trapeze.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there are provided methods of using a trapeze which include a step of restraining the periodic motion of the trapeze so that the performer experiences rotational acceleration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The criticality of the features and merits of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the attached drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational front view of a prior art trapeze.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A-C are schematic side elevational views illustrating the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3A shows the embodiment at the instant in time when the performer is just about to swing out from the platform.

FIG. 3B shows the embodiment a short time later when the performer has reached a certain point in the swing at which the slack goes out of the restraining line.

FIG. 3C shows the embodiment a short time after that shown in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a plan view of a secondary pivot of another embodiment of the present invention in use taken at an elevation that is intermediate between the points of suspension of the trapeze suspension lines and the trapeze bar.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a plan view of secondary pivot of another embodiment of the present invention in use taken at the same cross sectional height as FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a plan view of a secondary pivot of still another embodiment of the present invention in use taken at the same elevation as FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a plan view of a secondary pivot of yet another embodiment of the present invention in use taken at the same elevation as FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a plan view of a secondary pivot of another embodiment of the present invention in use taken at the same elevation as FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a side elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention in use wherein the length of the restraining line is dynamically adjustable.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In this section, some preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail sufficient for one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. It is to be understood, however, that the fact that a limited number of preferred embodiments are described herein does not in any way limit the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a typical prior art trapeze. The trapeze 2 consists a bar 4 and two suspension lines 6. The bar 4 is shown as having weights 8 at either end. Such weights 8 are often used to help stabilize the swing of the trapeze 2 when it is swinging without a performer. Each of the suspension lines 6 has a proximal end 10 from which the bar 4 is suspended and a distal end 12 from which the suspension line 6 itself is suspended.

FIG. 2 shows a compound trapeze according to an embodiment of the present invention. The compound trapeze 14 is similar in many respects to the prior art trapeze 2 of FIG. 1. The compound trapeze 14 has a bar 16 which may optionally have weights 18 at its ends. The bar 16 is suspended near its ends by suspension lines 20. Each of the suspension lines 20 has a proximal end 22 from which the bar 14 is suspended and a distal end 24 from which the suspension line 20 itself is suspended. Here the similarity with the prior art trapeze 2 ends. The compound trapeze 14 also includes a secondary pivot 26. The secondary pivot 26 in this embodiment comprises an arresting bar 28 and a restraining line 30. The arresting bar 28 is positionably attached to suspension lines 20 by fasteners 32. The restraining line 30 is connected at its proximal end 34 to the center of the arresting bar 28 by a connector 36. The restraining line 30 has a distal end 38 which is to be anchored so as to enable the restraining line 30 to interrupt the swing of the suspension lines 20 above the point of interaction P between the secondary pivot 26 and the suspension line 20.

FIGS. 3A-C schematically illustrate the operation of compound trapeze 14. FIG. 3A illustrates a point in time when the performer 40 is just about to jump off of box 42 on platform 44 that juts out from pole 46. The performer 40 has just grasped bar 16. The arresting bar 28 of secondary pivot 26 is attached to the suspension line 20 at point P and to the unshown companion suspension line at a corresponding point. The distal end 38 of restraining line 30 is anchored to pole 46 at a point A. The restraining line 30 has slack 48 at this point in time.

FIG. 3B illustrates a later point in time. The performer 40 has left the box 42 and swung out on the compound trapeze 14 along original arc 50 as suspension line 20 pivots about suspension point 52. At this instant in time, restraining line 30 is just about to become taut. The periodic swinging motion of the performer 40 up until this instant is substantially the same as it would be for the prior art trapeze 2 shown illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3C illustrates an instant later. The restraining line 30 has become taut and has prevented suspension line 20 from continuing its pivoting about the suspension point 52. This restraint causes the lower portion 54 of the suspension line 20 and the corresponding part of the unshown companion suspension line that are below point P to pivot about the arresting bar 28. As a result, the performer 40 does not swing along the continuation of original arc 50, but instead swings along a new arc 56. Because the length of the lower portion 54 of the suspension line 20 and the corresponding portion of the unshown companion suspension line are shorter than the suspension lines full lengths, the period of the performer's swing is suddenly shortened and the performer 40 is angularly accelerated as his or her angular momentum is conserved. Thus, this embodiment of the present invention causes a change in motion that gives the performer the opportunity to perform stunts which could not be performed under the constraints that the laws of physics impose on the periodic motion of an unrestrained trapeze.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a plan view of a secondary pivot of another embodiment of the present invention in use taken at an elevation that is intermediate between the points of suspension of the trapeze suspension lines and the trapeze bar. In this embodiment, the secondary pivot 58 comprises restraining line 60, connecting link 62, fork lines 64, clamps 66, and anchor 68. The connecting link 62 connects the proximal end 70 of restraining line 60 to fork lines 64. The fork lines 64 are positionably fastened to suspension lines 72 of the trapeze by clamps 66 at locations on the suspension lines 72 that are intermediate between their suspension points (not shown) and the trapeze bar (not shown). The distal end 74 of the restraining line 60 is anchored to the pole 76 by anchor 68. The length of the restraining line 60 is selected so that the secondary pivot 58 interrupts the periodic motion of the trapeze at the desired point in its swing.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a plan view of secondary pivot of still another embodiment of the present invention in use taken at the same elevation as FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the secondary pivot 78 comprises two restraining lines 80. The proximal end 82 of each of the restraining lines 80 is positionably fastened to one of the suspension lines 84 of the trapeze by a clamp 86. The distal end 88 of each restraining line 80 is anchored to one of the two poles 90 by being looped around it.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a plan view of a secondary pivot of still another embodiment of the present invention in use taken at the same elevation as FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the secondary pivot 92 comprises two restraining lines 94 and an arresting bar 96. The proximal ends 98 of the restraining lines 94 are attached by a connector 100 to the midpoint of arresting bar 96. The distal ends 102 of the restraining lines 94 are anchored to poles 104. The arresting bar 96 is positionably attached to suspension lines 106 by fasteners 108.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a plan view of a secondary pivot of yet another embodiment of the present invention in use taken at the same elevation as FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the secondary pivot 110 comprises two restraining lines 112. Each of the restraining lines 112 has its proximal end 114 positionably attached to one of the suspension lines 116 by a fastener 118. The distal end 120 of each of the restraining lines 112 connect to anchor connection 122 which itself is anchored to pole 124.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a plan view of a secondary pivot of another embodiment of the present invention in use taken at the same elevation as FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the secondary pivot 126 comprises two restraining lines 128. Each of the restraining lines 128 is attached at its respective proximal end 130 to a connector 132 which connects it to the arresting bar 134. The arresting bar 134 is positionably attached to each of the suspension lines 136 by a fastener 138. The respective distal ends 140 of each of the restraining lines 128 are connected to anchor 142 which are anchored to pole 144.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the length of the restraining line or lines are dynamically adjustable. In these embodiments, the restraining line or lines are allowed to play out and/or play in as the performer swings on the trapeze. The restraining line or lines are made taut at a selected moment in the performance so as to interrupt the periodic motion of the trapeze. FIG. 8 shows an example of such an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, there is depicted a schematic side view of a secondary pivot 146 in use which comprises restraining line 148 that is connected at its proximal end 150 to the midpoint of the arresting bar 152. The arresting bar 152 is positionably attached to the suspension lines 154 (only one of which is shown) by fasteners 156 (only one of which is shown). The restraining line 148 runs over pulley 158, which is anchored to pole 160. The distal end 162 of the restraining line 148 is controlled handler 164. As the performer 166 swings on the trapeze 168, the handler 164 dynamically adjusts the length of the restraining line 148. At a predetermined moment on the outward swing of the performer 166, the handler 164 makes the restraining line 148 go taut, thus interrupting the periodic motion of the trapeze 168 and causing the performer 166 to rotationally accelerate.

The secondary pivot of the present invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above, but includes all embodiments which comprise a mechanism that selectively restrains the periodic motion of a trapeze midswing so as to cause the performer on the bar of the trapeze to experience rotational acceleration as the suspension lines of the trapeze pivot about their points of interaction with the restraining mechanism.

The point of interaction between the secondary pivot and the trapeze suspension lines is selected to provide the desired amount of angular acceleration to the performer. The closer the point of interaction is to the trapeze bar, the greater is the angular acceleration that the performer will experience. However, it is preferred that the point of interaction be kept above the performer's center of gravity.

It is preferred that neither the performer nor the trapeze contacts the slack portion of a restraining line of a secondary pivot during use. Whether or not such contact may occur should be taken into consideration in selecting the anchor points of the restraining line or lines, the length of the restraining lines, and whether or not to dynamically adjust the restraining line length during use.

The present invention also includes method embodiments. In such embodiments, a performer swings on a trapeze. At a preselected point in his or her swinging, the periodic motion of the trapeze is restrained at locations of the suspension lines that are intermediate between their points of suspension and the trapeze bar. The step of restraining causes the performer to experience a rotational acceleration which he or she optionally may use to perform stunts of his or her choosing. The point in the performer's swinging when the restraint is imposed is left to the discretion of the performer.

While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in the following claims.

Claims

1. A compound trapeze comprising:

a) a trapeze having a bar and suspension lines; and

b) a secondary pivot;

wherein the secondary pivot is adapted to selectively interact with the suspension lines at respective locations thereof which are intermediate between the bar and the respective suspension points of the suspension lines to interrupt the periodic motion of the trapeze so as to cause a performer swinging on the trapeze to experience rotational acceleration.

2. The compound trapeze of claim 1, wherein the secondary pivot is fastened to the suspension lines.

3. The compound trapeze of claim 1, wherein the secondary pivot includes a restraining line adapted to selectively interrupt the periodic motion of the trapeze, wherein the restraining line is adapted to selectively interact with the suspension lines at respective locations thereof which are intermediate between the bar and the respective suspension points of the suspension lines so as to cause a performer swinging on the trapeze to experience rotational acceleration.

4. The compound trapeze of claim 3, wherein the restraining line is operatively connected to the suspension lines.

5. The compound trapeze of claim 3, wherein the secondary pivot further includes an anchor, wherein the restraining line is operatively connected to the anchor.

6. The compound trapeze of claim 3, wherein the length of the restraining line is dynamically adjustable.

7. The compound trapeze of claim 1, wherein the secondary pivot comprises a plurality of restraining lines, and each of the plurality of restraining lines is adapted to selectively interact with a suspension line at a location thereof which is intermediate between the bar and the suspension point of the suspension line so as to cause a performer swinging on the trapeze to experience rotational acceleration.

8. The compound trapeze of claim 7, wherein the secondary pivot includes an anchor and at least one of the plurality of restraining lines is operatively connected to the anchor.

9. The compound trapeze of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of restraining lines has a dynamically adjustable length.

10. A secondary pivot for use with a trapeze, the secondary pivot comprising a restraining line adapted to selectively interrupt the periodic motion of the trapeze, wherein the restraining line is adapted to selectively interact with the suspension lines of the trapeze at respective locations thereof which are intermediate between the trapeze bar and the respective suspension points of the suspension lines so as to cause a performer swinging on the trapeze to experience rotational acceleration.

11. The secondary pivot of claim 10, further comprising an anchor, wherein the restraining line is operatively connected to the anchor.

12. The secondary pivot of claim 10, wherein the secondary pivot comprises a plurality of restraining lines, and each of the plurality of restraining lines is adapted to selectively interact with a trapeze suspension line at a location thereof which is intermediate between the trapeze bar and the suspension point of the suspension line so as to cause a performer swinging on the trapeze to experience rotational acceleration.

13. The compound trapeze of claim 12, wherein the secondary pivot includes an anchor and at least one of the plurality of restraining lines is operatively connected to the anchor.

14. A method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a trapeze having a bar and suspension lines;

b) swinging by a performer on the trapeze; and

c) restraining the periodic motion of the trapeze at locations on the suspension lines that are intermediate between the bar and the suspension points of the suspension lines, the restraining causing the performer to experience rotational acceleration.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of the performer performing a stunt after the performer begins to experience said rotational acceleration.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of dynamically adjusting the length of a restraining line that is operably connected to the suspension lines and wherein the step of restraining includes selectively making the restraining line taut.