US2659429A - Daylight shield for drive-in or other outdoor moving picture theater projection screens - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 17,' 1953 s. D. GRUBBS, SR 2,659,429 DAYLIGHT SHIELD FOR DRIVE-IN OR OTHER OUTDOOR MOVING PICTURE THEATER PROJECTION SCREENS Filed April 26, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sydney D- Erubbs, 5r-

attorney Nov. 17, 1953 s D RUBBS, SR 2,659,429

G DAYLIGHT SHIELD FOR DRIVE-IN OR OTHER OUTDOOR MOVING PICTURE THEATER PROJECTION SCREENS Z5 Sfiventor Egcheg D E- ruhh5,5r.

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Nov. 17, 1953 s. D. GRUBBS, SR 2,659,429

DAYLIGHT SHIELD FOR DRIVE-IN OR OTHER OUTDOOR MOVING PICTURE THEATER PROJECTION SCREENS Filed April 26, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 -1 i l E i I l 6"/ 1 inventor 3/ Sydney Gruhbs, 51"- (Ittorneg;

Nov. 17, 1953 s. o. GRUBBS, SR

DAYLIGHT SHIELD FOR DRIVE-IN OR OTHER OUTDOOR MOVING PICTURE THEATER PROJECTION SCREENS Filed April 26, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 11

7 B I EI I (Z /6' I4 O i iiiiijq lg zzzlzzzzk: x2: )IWIIEE 7 Sydng Gruhh5 5n attorney Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE DAYLIGHT SHIELD FOR DRIVE-IN OR OTHER OUTDOOR MOVING PICTURE THEATER PROJECTION SCREENS 6 Claims.

relates to a daylight shield for outdoor moving picture theater This invention drive-in or other projection screens and more particularly daylight shield to be erected in front of and attached to the framework or tower that holds the moving picture projection screen.

A serious objection to outdoor moving pictures has been the necessity of waiting until darkness or deep dusk to commence the programs. The average show lasts from two to two and onequarter hours. In this part of the country and with daylight saving in effect, this means that shows cannot commence until 8:30 or 8: l pm. Thus the first show is over at :30 or 10:45 pm. and the second show is not out until about 1 A particular object of this invention is to provide a curtain shade or shield for shutting out or shading the projection screen from the evening light with the result that a program could start from one and one-half to two hours earlier. As an example a black curtain extending out or feet from the picture projection screen at the sides and top brings out the picture clearly while it is still quite light outdoors.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a daylight shade or shield which is positioned or may be extended into position for shielding the picture projection screen to the fullest extent and yet provide full view of the projection screen from all viewing positions in the field in front thereof occupied by cars in the range of the projection screen. Accordingly the curtain may be constructed so that its roof slopes downwardly outward from the top'of the picture projection screen so that the line of full vision extends to the extreme rear of the field, and the side portions thereof flare outwardly from the sides of the projection screen, thereby limiting the full vision to the area for occupancy of cars. It is to be noted that such areas or fields may be of the type employing varying sloping ramps defining the viewing stations for the cars though the present invention is not limited to such viewing station arrangements except as the stations define the area of the viewing field.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a shield in the form of a curtain which may be extended into position or retracted into closets or compartments provided at the sides and top of the picture projection screen.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear in the following detailed description of a highly satisfactory movable curtain daylight shield and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view diagrammatically illustrating a daylight shield in accordance with my invention applied to an tion screen with automobile stations arranged for viewing the screen.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the daylight shield applied to a picture projection screen on a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary enlarged detail horizontal sectional views taken on lines 55 and. 5-5 respectively of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a vertical detail sectional View on a larger scale taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged detail vertical sectional views taken on line 88 of Fig. 7 and on line 9-4) of Fig. 2 respectively.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail perspective View of a portion of the roof of the shield.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged front elevation of one side of the projection and daylight shields with portions thereof broken away.

Referring to the drawings, in general as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 a daylight shield or curtain I5 is illustrated as attached to a picture projection screen 15 for a drive-in outdoor moving picture theater with car stations comprising ramps ll of varying inclination and including the usual accessories and arranged in an arcuate viewing field in front of the projection screen. In accordance with this invention the daylight shield has a roof portion It inclined forwardly from the top of the projection screen so that the projected line it thereof extends above the entire viewing field, and its side portions 253 flaring outwardly from the sides of the projection screen so that the projected lines 2| there of extend along the outer sides of the viewing field. By such arrangement of the daylight shield the daylight although not entirely excluded is reduced to such an extent that clear pictures can be seen on the screen and it makes possible the earlier starting of drive-in and outdoor moving picture programs. This permits the theater an extra two hours or more of show time before darkness which is an additional show per evening and permits the patrons to see an entire program and leave the theater as early as 9:30 pm. instead of 10:30 or 11:60 pm. The arrangement of the daylight shield also permits outdoor picture projec- I 3 clear vision of the entire projection screen to the entire viewing field and limits the view of the entire projection screen to such viewing fleld beyond which viewing area of projection screen is materially reduced.

In accordance with a preferred highly satis factory construction the drawings show a daylight shield l5for use-in conjunction with. and attachedtothe toweror framework which holds the projection screen I6 in drive-in or other outdoor moving picture theaters.

Supports for the daylight shield l5 are pref,- erably of metal of tube or rod formations and include two vertical, outside, corner postsorsupports 22 which are set in concrete bases 23 or are otherwise flrrnly imbedded' in the-ground.

Other daylight shield supportswhichextend tothese posts and other posts are fastened firmly by threaded fittings such Lateral rods or supports 26, 21 and 28 extend from the corner posts 22 and areattached to the tower or framework of the projection screen It being fastened to the inside'of. curtain storage closets 24 with wall'flanges 25. The curtain or shield storagespace or recess extends around the projection screen area and at the side-to some distance below the projection screen. This closet or recess is for storing curtain when notin use and for protection of. the equipment from weather.

The shield i5 is made of canvas, cloth, rubber, plastic or'other material and extends alongthe rods 26, 21 and 28, being firmly attached at the back of the storage closet 2.4. The insides of the side walls 20 and the underside of the top 18 of shield I5 is preferably a black material or painted black. The supporting framework is arranged so that angle of the side walls 20 ofshield or curtain will give a clear and unobstructed view of the projection. screen from cars onthe outside ramps and so that that the topl8of the screen l5 will givea: clear and unobstructed view of the projection: screen: from. cars on: the; outside ramps and so that the top is of the shield I5 will slopezto thefront but leave anunobstructed view of the projection. screen by cars parked on the rear ramps.

Referring to the construction of the shield supporting framework more particularly, the corner posts or supports 22 are connected between their upper ends by a horizontal member 3| of. rod or tubular construction which is in front of and'parallel to the front of. the picture projection screen but at a lower level than the ends of rods 26 whichare secured by means of wall flanges 25 in the upper horiontal portion of the storage closet 24; These rods 26 are'parallel to each other, slope downwardly from the closet or curtain receiving recess and are secured at the corresponding spaced intervals to the horizontal member M as by means ofT-pipe fittings 32.

Rods 21 flareoutwardly from the projection screen tower daylight shield closet 24 and are secured therein on flanges at a slightly lower level than the flanges to whichrods 26 are secured and substantially under the flanges of the outer side rods 25. The rods 21 are secured to upright posts or rods 22 substantially at their juncture with the horizontal rod member 3|.

The side rods 23 are secured in the closet 24 side portions by similar wall flanges 25, the upper of these rods being secured below the rod 21 at'substantially'the same distance as the outer end of this rod isfrom theouter end of theside as Ts, Ls and flanges.

rod 26 where they are secured to the corner support 22 and horizontal support 3| respectively. The two rods 28 thus slope upwardly from their connections in the shield or curtain closet side portions to their outer connections with the corner posts 22. This arrangement affords a smooth supporting arrangement for the daylight shield I5 as willbe further described.

The daylight-shield or curtain l5- has iron rings 33 secured to it that encircle and slide along the supporting rods 26 and 28 along the topand sides thereof respectively so that the curtain extends below the top rods 25 and on the inner sidesof rods 28. The side portions 20 are obviously wider than the major top portion l8 of'the shieldl5 due to the difference in angularity; of.the side portions with respect to the slope of the top portion, thus necessitating triangular-portions 34 forming a connection between the top portion and these wider side portions and providing a continuous smooth surface of the shield portions when extended or unfurled over the framework. This triangular portion engages overthe top of the flaring side rods 21- and when the curtain is drawn into the cabinet or closet24 it has a sliding-engagement therewith, its outer edge sliding lengthwise thereover with its inner portions also having proportionate lengthwise sliding movement'with respectthereto.

By this arrangement the outer edge of the daylight curtain or shield l5 has a total length equivalent to the total length of the inner edge as also the lengths of intermediate portions. Thus theshield may be'drawn into the recess or closed smoothly when not in use so as to be protected from the'weather. As shown in detail in Fig. 9 the outer edge of the shield is reinforced by rods 35 and 35 in'the. hem at the, outer edges of the side and top portionsznand l8 respectively and a flexible reinforcing element 31 which may bend in; lengthwise sliding over. rod 2]; Element; 3]. is. shown; as 9..- cable. connectin adjacent ends of rods..35; and 36.by:we1ding OI the'like.

As a satisfactory'meansfor.extending and retracting the daylight shield l5 Ihave employed a system of cables which isoperated by an electric motor 38 having shafts 39 extending endwise therefrom adjacent the lower portion of the pro,- jection screen toweras indicated inFig. 3. The outer ends. of these, shafts extendinto thelower ends of the shield closet slde portions; and. are provided with pulleys for driving a cable system for operating the daylight screen. As shown in detail in Fig; 6 pulley 40 is a double pulleyor a pairof pulleys, sheave type, for receiving belts shownas cables 4| and 42 which extend outward and upwardly therefrom. respectively. These pulleys, instead Oil being; mounted directly on shaft 39, are securedon a stub shaft 43-at an angle, corresponding to angle of the side portion of. the daylight shield, and. are-connected to the drive shaft 39 by a universal joint, knuckle or connection 44;

Cables 4| and 42 are endless belts, the former. at its outer portionpassing over apulley as shown in Fig; 4, and-the latter at its upperportion extending over one of a pair. of pulleys 48. The other of the pair of pulleys 46 carries a belt or cable 41 which extends outwardly therefrom and passes over a pulley 48- in a similar manner as belt 41 is mounted and so that both of these belts will be driven at the same speed.

As shown in Fig... 5 the pair of. pulleys 43-18 mounted on a shaft 49 upon which is also mounted a pulley 50 of smaller diameter for driving an upwardly extending belt cable at relatively lower speed. This cable 5| passes over a pulley 52, see Fig. 7, on a drive shaft 53 wise through the upper horizontal portion of the daylight shield closet 24 This shaft is provided with similar driving pulleys 54 which drive belt cables 55 extending outwardly and sloping downwardly and carried over pulleys 56 mountedin brackets 51 carried by the outer ends of rods as best shown in Figs. 4 and 10.

As just indicated the speed of belt 5| is lower than that of belts 4| and 47, the ratio being such that belts 4i, 4? and 55 will be driven at speeds directly in proportion to their lengths and the the cables5l and pulleys 52 at both ends insures the proper speeds being uniformly maintained. Each of the cables 4|, 4'! and 55 has a clamping member 58 and extending therefrom with its other end provided with clamping means 59 for engaging the corresponding reinforcing rods and 35. Thus when the cable system is operated the outer maror extending it outwardly therefrom into daylight shielding position.

It will be seen that this daylight shield when used in connection with drive-in or other or in concrete act as an additional support and brace to the screen tower during heavy winds.

I claim:

1. A daylight shield for attachment to the forard portion of the tower for an outdoor moving picture proiection screen, said shield having side ture for the shield including upright standards in front of and to the sides of the tower, and framework extending outwardly from the tower and connected to said upright standards for supporting the shield, the top portion of the frame work sloping outwardly and downwardly from the tower above the projection side portions of the shield and flaring laterally outward from the sides of the projection screen along the sides of tower.

2. A daylight shield for an outdoor moving picture projection screen having side and top portions of flexible material extending forwardly from the sides and top of the projection screen to prevent extraneous lights from reaching the projection screen, a tower for supporting the projection screen, and a frame structure for supporting said daylight shield, the

the forward portion of top of said shield sloping forwardly and down-' wardly from the tower above the projection screen and side portions of the shield flaring outextending crosssecured to it wardly from the tower at the sides of the projechaving side and top portions the screen and having their forward ends connected to said horizontal element and said posts.

3; A daylight shield for the forward portion of an outdoor moving picture projection screen of flexible material extending forwardly from the sides and top of the projection screen to prevent extraneous light from reaching the projection screen, a tower for supporting the projection screen, and a frame structure for supporting said daylight shield, the

outwardly from the tower projection screen including, a supporting post in front of and at each side of the projection screen tower, a horizontal element connected to the upper ends of said supporting posts, lateral supporting elements extending from the tower from points above the top of the projection screen and beyond the sides of the screen and having their forward ends connected with said horizonsupporting elements and for retracting the same therefrom and into the screen closet.

4. A daylight shield for the forward portion of an outdoor moving picture projection screen having side and top portions of flexible material extending forwardly from the sides and top of the projection screen to prevent extraneous lights from reaching the projection screen, a tower for supporting the projection screen, and a frame structure for supporting said dayli ht shield, the top of said shield sloping forwardly and downwardly from the tower above the proiection screen each positioned at an angle outwardly therefrom a horizontal element connected to the upper ends of said supporting posts, and lateral supporting elements extending from the tower from points above the top of the projection screen sloping forwardly therefrom and beyond the sides of the said posts respectively.

5. A daylight shield for the forward portion of an outdoor moving picture projection screen having side and top portions of flexible material extending forwardly from the sides and top of the projection screen to prevent extraneous lights from reaching the projection screen, a tower for supporting the projection screen, and a frame structure for supporting said daylight shield, the top of said shield sloping forwardly and downwardly from the tower above the projection screen and side portions of the shield flaring outwardly from the tower at the sides of the projection screen including, a supporting post in front of of the projection screen sloping forwardly and and at each side of the projection screen tower downwardly therefrom with their forward ends each positioned at an angle outwardly therefrom connected to said horizontal element, lateral a horizontal element connected to the upper ends supporting elements at the sides of the projection of said supporting posts, lateral supporting elescreen extending laterally outwardly and sloping ments extending from the tower from points upwardly in parallel relationship with their outer above the top of the projection screen sloping ends connected with said supporting posts, reforwardly therefrom and beyond the sides of spectively, a supporting element connected subthe screen extending at an angle laterally outstantially to the juncture of each corner post and wardly and downwardly therefrom with their said horizontal element and extending therefrom forward ends connected to said horizontal eleand each connected to the tower and being subment and said posts respectively, and a supportstantially in the plane of the lateral supporting ing element connected substantially to the juncelements connected to sides of the tower and ture of each corner post and said horizontal eleslightly below the plane of the top supporting ment and extending therefrom and each conelements connected to the tower above the pronected to the tower and being substantially in jection screen, and said flexible daylight shield the plane of the laterally extending supporting having rings secured thereto and encircling each elements connected to sides of the tower and of the said top and lateral supporting elements, slightly below the plane of the supports conthe flexible shield extending inside of said lateral nected to the tower above the projection screen. 2 supporting elements and under said top sup- 6. A daylight shield for the forward portion of porting elements and having a sliding engagean outdoor moving picture projection screen havment over the last named supporting elements. ing side and top portions of flexible material extending forwardly from the sides and top of the SYDNEY GRUBBS' projection screen to prevent extraneous lights from reaching the projection screen, a tower for Refemnces Cited in the me of this Patent supporting the projection screen, and a frame structure for supporting said daylight shield, the UNITED STATES PATENTS top of said shield sloping forwardly and down- Number Name Date wardly from the tower above the projection screen 0, Er ckson Apr. 14, 1931 and side portions of the shield flaring outwardly 1,882,823 Hall et R1 Oct. 18, 1932 from the tower at the sides of the projection 1,909,537 Hollingshead, y 16, 3 screen including, a supporting post in front of 2,368,882 Rose Feb. 6, 1945 and at each side of the projection screen tower 3 0 Rose Dec. 2, 1947 each at an angle outwardly therefrom, trsup- 5 2,432,620 Ferguson 1947 porting elements extending in parallel relation- 9 ,7 Rose Feb. '7, 1950 ship from the tower from points above the top 3,8 Dwinell Jan. 29, 1952

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