Puppet theater

Claim 2

A puppet theater comprising: a. a stage having at least one lateral side; b. a base slidable on the stage for supporting a doll or other figure in upstanding relation on the stage; c. a pair of pulleys, operable by hand, mounted adjacent the lateral side for rotation about axes which are in fixed relation to the stage; and d. means coupling the base and pair of pulleys together such that the base can be, alternatively, rotated about an axis normal to the plane of the stage, moved across the stage in a direction towards and away from the lateral side, and simultaneously rotated and moved across the stage, all in response to corresponding rotation of the pulleys, said means including a cable comprising, a first pair of cable segments extending from the base and at least partially reeved around the pair of pulleys, and a second pair of cable segments extending from the base in opposed relation to the first pair of cable segments.

Claim 3

The theater of claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes: e. means for changing the direction of the second pair of cable segments adjacent another lateral sIde which is opposite said at least one lateral side; and f. means for joining the pairs of cable segments in parallel relation beneath the plane of the stage in reference to a doll or other figure standing above the plane of the stage.

Claim 4

The theater of claim 2, which includes: g. a circular base portion around which each pair of cable segments are at least partially reeved; and h. means for maintaining the cable segments in compressed relation against the circular base portion which they contact.

Claim 5

The theater of claim 3, which includes: i. a second lateral side of the stage in opposed relation to said at least one lateral side; and j. a second pair of pulleys mounted for rotation about axes which are in fixed relation adjacent said second lateral side, the axes about which each of said pulleys rotate, being parallel to the plane of the stage and normal to the direction in which the base moves across the stage.

Claim 6

The theater of claim 4, wherein the means (h) for maintaining the cable segments in compressed relation against the base portion includes: k. a coil spring joining adjacent ends of a pair of cable segments beneath the plane of the stage.

Claim 7

A puppet theater comprising: a. a stage having a pair of opposing sides; b. a set of pulleys mounted adjacent each of the pair of opposing sides of the stage, for rotation about parallel axes; c. a base slidable on the stage for supporting a doll or other figure in upstanding relation on the stage, said base having a circular portion; and d. two pairs of cable segments reeved at least partially around opposing circular sides of the circular base portion and extending from the base in opposing axial, parallel directions, said cable segments reeved at least partially around the pulleys and joined together in parallel relation beneath the stage.

Claim 8

A puppet theater comprising: a. a stage having a pair of opposing sides; b. a set of pulleys mounted adjacent each of the pair of opposing sides of the stage, for rotation about parallel axes; c. a base slidable on the stage for supporting a doll or other figure in upstanding relation on the stage, said base having a circular portion; and d. two pairs of cable segments reeved at least partially around opposing circular sides of the circular base portion and extending from the base in opposing axial, parallel directions, said cable segments reeved at least partially around the pulleys and joined together in parallel relation beneath the stage.

Claim 9

The theater of claim 6, which includes: e. means for tensioning the cable segments and maintaining them against the circular base portion.

Claim 10

The theater of claim 7, wherein the cables are piano wire.

Claim 11

A puppet theater comprising: a. a stage having a pair of opposing sides; b. a base for supporting a doll or other figure in upstanding relation on the stage; c. a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent each side of the stage, the pulleys being operable, by hand, and causing movement of the base and mounted for rotation about parallel axes which are normal to the direction of movement of the base across the stage and parallel to the plane of the stage; d. a cable reeved at least partially around the pulleys and base, the cable including a pair of cable segments extending from the base towards each pair of pulleys and being at least partially reeved around the pulleys; and e. means for joining the pairs of cable segments beneath the plane of the stage in reference to a doll extending above the plane of the stage, such that the base can be, alternately, moved across the stage towards each of the opposing sides, rotated about an axis normal to the plane of the stage, and simultaneously rotated and moved across the stage in response to corresponding rotation of the pulleys.

Claim 12

A puppet theater comprising: a. a stage having a pair of opposing sides; b. a base for supporting a doll or other figure in upstanding relation on the stage; c. a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent each side of the stage, the pulleys being operable, by hand, and causing movement of the base and mounted for rotation about parallel axes which are normal to the direction of movement of the base across the stage and parallel to the plane of the stage; d. a cable reeved at least partially around the pulleys and base, the cable including a pair of cable segments extending from the base towards each pair of pulleys and being at least partially reeved around the pulleys; and e. means for joining the pairs of cable segments beneath the plane of the stage in reference to a doll extending above the plane of the stage, such that the base can be, alternately, moved across the stage towards each of the opposing sides, rotated about an axis normal to the plane of the stage, and simultaneously rotated and moved across the stage in response to corresponding rotation of the pulleys.

Claim 13

The theater of claim 9, which includes: ee. a base having a circular portion around which the cable segments are at least partially reeved; and f. means for biasing the cable segments against the circular base portion such that the cable segments frictionally engage said portion and cause movement of the base in response to corresponding movement of the cable segments.

Claim 14

The theater of claim 10, wherein the biasing means (f) includes a coil spring joining adjacent ends of aligned cable segments beneath the stage.

Claim 15

The theater of claim 11, wherein the base includes means for frictionally engaging and holding a doll or other figure in upstanding relation on the base.

Claim 16

The theater of claim 12, which includes: g. a plurality of similar bases slidable on the stage; h. a pair of Pulleys disposed at each side of the stage for manipulating each base; and i. a cable reeved around each base and associated pulleys for translating movement of the pulleys into corresponding movement of the bases on the stage.

Claim 17

A puppet theater comprising: a. a stage having at least one lateral side; b. a base for supporting a doll in upstanding relation on the stage, the base having a circular portion; c. a first pair of cable segments extending from the base towards the lateral side of the stage, the cable segments being joined together and reeved at least partially around the circular portion of the base; d. a second pair of cable segments extending from the base in opposed relation to the first pair of cable segments, the second pair of cable segments also being joined together and reeved at least partially around the circular portion of the base; e. means for maintaining the cable segments in compressive, frictional engagement with the circular portion of the base; and f. means adjacent the lateral side for manipulating the first pair of cable segments to alternately cause movement of the base towards and away from the lateral side of the stage, rotation of the base about an axis normal to the plane of the stage, and simultaneous rotation of the base about said axis and movement of the base relative to the lateral side.

Claim 18

A puppet theater comprising: a. a stage having at least one lateral side; b. a base for supporting a doll in upstanding relation on the stage, the base having a circular portion; c. a first pair of cable segments extending from the base towards the lateral side of the stage, the cable segments being joined together and reeved at least partially around the circular portion of the base; d. a second pair of cable segments extending from the base in opposed relation to the first pair of cable segments, the second pair of cable segments also being joined together and reeved at least partially around the circular portion of the base; e. means for maintaining the cable segments in compressive, frictional engagement with the circular portion of the base; and f. means adjacent the lateral side for manipulating the first pair of cable segments to alternately cause movement of the base towards and away from the lateral side of the stage, rotation of the base about an axis normal to the plane of the stage, and simultaneous rotation of the base about said axis and movement of the base relative to the lateral side.

Claim 19

The theater of claim 14, wherein the means (f) includes: g. a first pair of pulleys around which the first pair of cable segments are at least partially reeved; and h. means for mounting the pulleys for rotation about axes which are 1) normal to the direction in which the base moves towards and away from the lateral side, 2) parallel to the plane of the stage; and 3) in fixed relation adjacent the lateral side of the stage.

Claim 20

The theater of claim 15, which includes: i. a second lateral side of the stage opposite said at least one lateral side; and j. means adjacent the second lateral side of the stage for reversing the direction of the second pair of cable segments.

Claim 21

The theater of claim 16, wherein the cable segments extend from the base in parallel relation and are parallel beneath the plane of the stage in reference to a doll extending above the plane of the stage.

Claim 22

The theater of claim 17, which includes a spring joining a pair of adjacent cable ends in aligned relation.

Claim 23

The theater of claim 18, wherein the cables are wire.