Apparatus and method for sequential viewing of performances

Abstract

An apparatus for enabling sequential viewing of performances by a plurality of performers includes first and second surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being movable relative to the other surface; a plurality of performance stations defined on one of the first and second surfaces; a plurality of viewing stations defined on the other of the first and second surfaces; and a motive device that produces relative motion between the first and second surfaces.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, including a rotating disk-shaped first surface with a plurality of viewing stations, a fixed annular second surface with a plurality of performance stations, and partitions separating the viewing and performance areas,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, including a fixed disk-shaped first surface and a rotating annular second surface,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side elevations showing displaced and coplanar configurations, respectively, of the first and second surfaces of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention which includes multiple entrances and exits to viewing stations to accommodate a larger number of performers and viewers,

FIG. 6 a-c are a plan view, side elevation and detail of an additional embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention including an elongated first surface and an elongated, carousel-like second surface formed from multiple movable elements, and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention including an elongated first surface disposed parallel to and adjacent an elongated, carousel-like second surface formed from multiple moving elements.

Claims

1. An apparatus for enabling sequential viewing of performances by a plurality of performers, the apparatus comprising a) first and second surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being movable relative to the other surface,b) a plurality of performance stations defined on one of the first and second surfaces,c) a plurality of viewing stations defined on the other of the first and second surfaces, andd) a motive device that produces relative motion between the first and second surfaces.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the number of viewing stations is greater than the number of performance stations.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first surface is a disk having a center and the second surface is an annulus having a center.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first surface is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending through the center of the first surface, wherein the second surface is fixed, and wherein the center of the second surface is collinear with the axis of rotation of the first surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first and second surfaces are coplanar.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the viewing stations are defined on the first surface and the performance stations are defined on the second surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the second surface is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending through the center of the second surface, wherein the first surface is fixed, and wherein the center of the first surface is collinear with the axis of rotation of the second surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first and second surfaces are coplanar.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the performance stations are defined on the first surface and the viewing stations are defined on the second surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first surface is fixed and the second surface comprises a plurality of movable segments.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the second surface surrounds the first surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first surface is extended along an axis and wherein the second surface is disposed adjacent the first surface such that a portion of the second surface adjacent the first surface is movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the first surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the performance stations are defined on the first surface and the viewing stations are defined on the second surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of partitions separating the performance stations.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of partitions separating the viewing stations.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of partitions separating the performance stations from the viewing stations.

17. A method of sequentially viewing performances by a plurality of performers, the method comprising the steps of: i) entering an apparatus comprising a) first and second surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being movable relative to the other surface,b) a plurality of performance stations defined on one of the first and second surfaces,c) a plurality of viewing stations defined on the other of the first and second surfaces, andd) a motive device that produces relative motion between the first and second surfaces,wherein a viewing station of the apparatus is entered,ii) viewing a performance at a performance station when relative motion is produced between the first and second surfaces such that the viewing station entered in step (i) and the performance station are positioned adjacent each other, andiii) repeating step (ii) for at least one additional performance station.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one performance is at least partially performed at a viewing station.

19. A method of providing performances sequentially to a plurality of viewers, the method comprising the steps of: i) entering an apparatus comprising a) first and second surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being movable relative to the other surface,b) a plurality of performance stations defined on one of the first and second surfaces,c) a plurality of viewing stations defined on the other of the first and second surfaces, andd) a motive device that produces relative motion between the first and second surfaces,wherein a performance station of the apparatus is entered,ii) providing a performance to a viewer at a viewing station when relative motion is produced between the first and second surfaces such that the performance station entered in step (i) and the viewing station are positioned adjacent each other, andiii) repeating step (ii) for at least one additional viewing station.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein at least one performance is at least partially performed at a viewing station.