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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to a structure and arrangement for a multi-sensory
presentation of entertainment and/or educational materials in a theatrical
environment.
b. Background of the Invention
Cinemagraphic and video projections are now frequently combined with live
performances to add a sense of realism to theatrical presentation. In this
patent application the term `live performance` shall refer to sequential
choreographed movement by figures on a stage, preferably in conjunction
with props disposed thereon. The figures may be actors or mechanical
figures, i.e. puppets or robots. Previously these projections were two
dimensional and could not be combined with the live performance in a
manner that looks convincing to the audience nor were they able to move
about objects positioned in front of them or between the images and the
audience area. In addition most presentations involved only visual and
aural stimuli and hence the audience's experience of the presentation was
very limited.
OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above disadvantage of the prior art, it is objective of the
present invention to provide a structure capable of combining a live
performance with three dimensional imagery.
A further objective is to provide a structure wherein in addition to visual
stimuli, the audience is subjected to various other stimuli including
audio, olfactory, apparent motion and so forth which makes a presentation
much more stimulating and believable,
Other objectives and advantages of the invention shall become apparent from
the following description. Briefly, a multi-sensory theatrical
presentation structure constructed in accordance with this invention
includes a stage for presentation of a live performance, an audience area
from which an audience can experience a presentation and projecting means
for projecting an image, still or moving, superimposed on the live
performance. The projection means includes an image projector for
generating the image and first surface mirrors, a fabric screen and a beam
splitting screen receiving said image, said screen including an image
receiving surface formed either of glass or a flexible film. The beam
splitting screen may be moved away to an idle position either during or
after a performance. During performance, the image receiving surface or
the fabric screen can be shifted toward or away from the projector or in
relation to the beam splitting screen to provide a three dimensional
effect. The structure may also include olfactory devices for providing
olfactory stimulation and a speaker system for providing multi-track
stereo sounds. Additionally, the audience may be seated on a movable
platform which can be reciprocated or rotated during the performance to
provide additional realistic effects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a theatrical presentation structure constructed
in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 2 shows an elevational view of the structure of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a side elevational view of the beam splitter and its frame for
the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2; and
FIG. 4 shows an enlarged partial sectional view of the frame of FIG. 3
taken along lines 4--4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the figures a theatrical presentation structure 10
constructed in accordance with this invention includes an audience area
such as a platform 12 supporting chairs 14 or other support means on which
an audience can rest during a performance. The platform may be secured to
the floor 16 or may be moved in one or more directions in an oscillatory
motion or turned by a driver mechanism 18. Disposed on top of platform 12
is a semitranslucent screen or scrim 20 suitable for back projection as
described more fully below.
In front of the platform 12 there is a stage area 22 defined between two
side walls 24, 26 extending toward the platform 12 and a back wall 28. The
stage area may be partitioned so that it is formed with a central zone 31
with two lateral zones 32, 34 defined by side walls 36, 38 respectively.
Various props 40 may be positioned on the stage central zone as well as in
lateral zones 32, 34. A section of the stage 22 and area behind walls 36,
38 may be turned into a storage closet 42 for storing puppets or robots
between performances.
A beam splitter 44 is positioned in front of the stage 22. Preferably
splitter 44 is disposed at about an angle of about 69.degree. from the
horizontal plane as shown in FIG. 2 and is made of a sheet of glass
treated so that it is partially reflective and partially transmissive.
Alternatively, the beam splitter may comprise a thin flexible material or
transparent or semi-transparent film such as a Mylar.RTM.. With proper
illumination the audience on platform 12 can see the stage 22 including
the props 40 and any actors or animated figures performing a live
performance thereon. In addition the audience also perceive an image
(still or moving) reflected by the splitter 44 so that this image
projected onto the splitter 44 is superimposed on the live performance
taking place on the stage 22.
The projecting means for projecting the image on splitter 44 is preferably
positioned between the stage 22 and audience area. This projecting means
includes a pair of projectors 46, 48, a pair of flat mirrors 50, 52 and a
front projection screen 54. Projectors 46, 48 are arranged to bounce their
images off mirrors 50 or 52 which reflect the images to a solid,
non-light-transmitting screen (or screens) 54. The screen 54 is positioned
so that the image formed thereon and originating from the projectors 46,
48 is reflected by the beam splitter 44 toward the audience on platform
12. Preferably, in order to achieve this result, the projectors are
oriented so that they project images at an angle of about 55.degree. from
a horizontal plane, while mirrors 50, 52 are oriented at an angle of
48.degree. and front projection screen 54 is oriented at an angle of
53.degree. from the horizontal plane. Importantly the projectors 46, 48
and screen 54 are disposed above an area disposed between the stage and
the audience. A decorative panel or other wall means may be used to cover
the projectors 46, 48. Of course other arrangements and projection means
may be used as well to generate an image for reflection by beam splitter
screen 44. The beam splitter 44 in front of audience 12 is placed in such
a manner that the audience can see the reflection of the solid imagery (on
screen 54) superimposed on the stage area 22. The screen is preferably
formed of fabric but may also be a free-form solid surface with different
areas disposed in different planes from the audience. As a result a
"ghost" moving across the screen would also appear to move toward or away
from the audience.
In addition to the components described above, additional components are
added to the structure 10, which components have been omitted from the
drawings for the sake of clarity. These additional components include a
speaker system for providing high quality surround sound, image generating
means for selectively generating an image onto the scrims 20, 36 and 38,
olfactory apparatus 70 for providing olfactory stimuli for the audience,
electromechanical means for moving puppets, robots or props on the stage
22 and so on.
Importantly, the beam splitter 44 can be manipulated in various ways to
obtain novel affects which were not previously achievable. For this
purpose, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the beam splitter 44 is supported on a
frame 51 composed of two horizontal frame members 53, 55 and two vertical
frame members 56, 58. The frame members 53, 55, 56, 58 may be tubular. The
frame 51 is supported on the ceiling 61 above the stage 22 by supports 60,
62. These supports may be arranged to position the frame 51 selectively in
a first and a second position. In the first position shown in FIGS. 1 and
2 the beam splitter 44 is disposed at an angle as discussed above with
respect to the horizontal plane so that it can reflect the image from
screen 54 toward the audience on platform 12. In its second position, the
beam splitter 44' (shown by dotted lines in FIG. 2) is disposed
substantially horizontally adjacent to ceiling 61 so that it is idle. For
this purpose the supports 60, 62 may be pivot frame 51 about the
longitudinal axis of frame member 53 using well known electromechanical or
pneumatic means.
A film 45 forming splitter 44 may be supported on frame 51 by a plurality
of clamps 66, 68 attached to frame members 53, 55, 56, 58. Details of
clamps 66 are shown in FIG. 4 for securing the bottom edge 64 of the film
45. Each clamp 66 is formed of a C-shaped body 70 forming a jaw 72 for
embracing a portion of frame member 55. A screw 74 is disposed opposite
jaw 72 to secure the clamp 66 to the frame member 55 as shown. On one
side, clamp body 70 supports a bracing bracket 76. On the opposite side,
body 72 is provided with an extended screw 78 threaded into a hole 79. The
end of the screw 78 is captured by a member 80. An arm 82 with two fingers
84, 86 extends above member 80. The arm 82 is mounted on member 80 by a
hinge 88. The spacing between fingers 84, 86 is adjusted by a screw 90 to
capture the edge 64 of glass sheet or film 45.
A cylindrical actuator 92 is used to couple arm 82 to bracing bracket 76.
The cylindrical actuator includes a piston rod 94 having one end pivotably
attached to finger 86 and another end (not shown) disposed inside a
cylinder 96. The cylinder 96 is filled with a fluid and its internal
pressure is controlled through a control tube 98 coupled to a remote
control apparatus (not shown). Increasing or decreasing the pressure
within the cylinder 96 causes the rod 94 to extend or retract which in
turn forces the arm 82 to pivot around hinge 88 either clockwise or
counter clockwise, as shown by arrows A and B.
The clamps 68 disposed on frame members 53, 56 and 58 are similar to clamp
66 shown in FIG. 4 except that the film 45 is held rigidly and therefore
hinge 88 is omitted and actuator 92 is replaced by a rod having a
preselected fixed length.
During a multi-sensory presentation, while audience is seated on platform
12, live performance takes place on stage 22 including its center zone 31
and selectively on the lateral zones 32, 34. The action in the lateral
zones may be made visible by providing scrim portions 36' and 38' of side
walls 36, 38 by changing the relative intensity light levels on the stage
22. As previously mentioned either live actors, puppets or robots may be
used for the live performance. Concurrently with this performance, music
and other sound programming is provided to the audience through the
speaker system surrounding the audience, the platform 12 may be moving and
the olfactory devices may also be activated. Simultaneously, projectors
46, 48 project still or moving image on beam splitter 44 via mirror 50 and
front projection screen 54. The images from these projectors are
superimposed or blended with the live performance on the stage 22 as
viewed by the audience to provide a very realistic three-dimensional
effect. This effect is enhanced if a film is used by moving all or a
portion of the film 45 of beam splitter 44 using the pivotable clamps 66
as described above. Alternatively, or additionally the whole frame may be
shifted toward or away from the audience using well-known
electro-mechanical activators (not shown). During or immediately after the
presentation is completed the beam splitter may be slid away to a
horizontal position 44' adjacent to the ceiling by supports 60, 62 through
appropriate mechanical means.
The structure described herein has numerous advantages over the prior art.
By positioning the projectors at a location above and between the stage
and the audience, and folding the optical paths between the projectors and
the screen, no masking means are required above the audience. In addition
the space above the audience now becomes available for other optical
effects. Using a sheet of glass or a thin plastic film for the beam
splitter screen allows for a cost effective, quick, selective, subtle .and
dramatic removal of the splitter from the stage area so that its location
can be occupied by a show-host, live-action characters and even the
audience. Thus, a heightened and mysterious effect is achieved.
Additional special effects may be achieved if a flexible film is used. More
specifically undulating the film along its bottom, moving the film toward
or away from the audience, and fluttering or shaking a portion of the film
give the image a three dimensional realistic images of for example fire,
water, ghosts and so on which is not achievable with a stationary
splitter. Further, a prop or column 100 may be provided in front of the
audience as shown in FIG. 4. A corresponding prop 101 is positioned on
stage in line with prop 100. The audience sees a correct visual placement
of the prop on stage but, in fact is viewing an image of the prop
superimposed over the on-stage prop. This permits a "ghost" to "walk"
behind props which are positioned on stage.
Movement of the splitter toward or away from the projector further creates
the impression that the image on the film interacts with the characters on
the stage along not one, as in the case with a stationary splitter, but
several planes.
The present arrangement makes use of front projection. These types of
images are inherently clearer and brighter than rear projected images.
Moreover the arrangement leaves a clear space in front of the audience for
the live action by full scale characters. Further, if desired multiple
projection/ghost setups may be repeated one in front of the other to
create multiple planes of ghosts. In addition, more than two projectors
can be used for a wider area of imagery.
With the relatively small size of the mirror/projection setup disclosed,
the theater can be built into a transportable container for use as a
portable show.
Obviously numerous modifications may be made to this invention without
departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims.
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