May 7, 1938. L. Krug . .

2,117,809
- TRICK DEVICE

Filed July 3, 1937

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 Patented May 17, 1938. 2,117,809

UNITED STATES 2,17,809

PATENT OFFICE
TRICK DEVICE
Ludwig Krug, New York, N. Y.
Application July 3, 1937, Serial No. 151,916
8 Claims. (C. 272-8)
The present invention relates generally to ure 5 showing the parts as seen in the position of
illusion or trick devices such as commonly form Figure 2.
Referring now to these figures, the illusion or
a part of magician's properties, and more par trick is presented in connection with a flat plate
ticularly to a device of this nature having for its and the 5
primary object the presentation of an illusion platfe maylike be
generally indicated at 0. This
either transparent or opaque and
according to which there is ready and easy pen formed of any Suitable material although it is
etration of an apparently inpenetrable body best in carrying the illusion to its fullest extent,
or plate.
A further object of the invention is the pro that the plate be formed of a rigid transparent
material such as glass. - 10
10 vision of a device of the above nature which may
be easily and quickly manipulated and its ma tionheofplate ?o is mounted to slide in the direc
its length within a frame whose front
nipulation fully and effectively screened so that
the apparently impossible penetration may be and rear portions substantially overlap the top,
performed at close quarters and the secret of botton
tion of
and side edges of the plate in any posi
the latter. The plate to may be and 5
its performance easily concealed. preferably is of the full internal width of the
A still further object of the invention is the frame. though it is substantially shorter than
provision of a simple and inexpensive device the frame so as to permit shifting movement of
whose proper manipulation may be easily mas the plate vertically in the frame from the posi
tered by old and young, skilled and unskilled, tion shown in Figures 2 and 5 wherein the upper 20
20 and which will afford amusement as well as edge of the plate is in contact with the upper end
amazement to all within view. of the frame to the position shown in Figures 1
Briefly the invention proposes a device, in the and 4 where the lower edge of the plate is in
use of which an apparently imperforate and im contact with the lower end of the frame. The
penetrable plate and the like is easily penetrated frame also has at its front and rear sides ver
by a pencil or other pointed implement while tically extending cross members 2 and 3, in
Overlying and underlying cards and the like ob line with one another, each cross member pre
scure from view a perforation of the plate ex senting a centrally disposed guide ring 4 and
posed for the penetration in one position of the upper and lower arms 5, the latter enlarged or
latter, the perforation of the plate being con widened adjacent to the rings 4 to form simi 30
30 cealed independent of the cards in another posi lar shields 6 above and below the rings. The
tion of the plate in which the latter is locked rings also have laterally extending and outwardly
against any movement except when the cards are curved or flaring guide ears 7 for a purpose
placed to conceal the perforation in the first which will presently appear.
mentioned position of the plate. . . It will be noted from Figures 4 and 5 that the
35 With these general statements it is believed plate 0 is closely embraced by the front and
the device may be better understood and more rear side portions of the frame and that its
thoroughly appreciated from the following de opposite surfaces are similarly closely contacted
scription in detail thereof, reference being made
to the accompanying drawing illustrating the by the cross members whose rings f4 are disposed 40
approximately at the center of the frame so that
40 same and forming a part of the specification, and the shields 6 lie in close contact with the two
in which surfaces of the glass plate O although the cross
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device with pieces as a whole have sufficient resilience to
the plate in normal locked position. r yield to the introduction of cards 8 between the
45
Figure 2 is a sectional side view through the cross pieces and the two surfaces of the glass as 45
frame showing the plate in its position for pen seen in Figure 5 and the approximate positions .
etration, one of the concealing cards being in of which are indicated by broken lines in Fig
dicated in dotted outline. a lure 2.
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through One of the shields is has at its inner face a
the device taken substantially on line. 3-3 of protruding locking piece or detent 9 just suf 50
Figure 2, and , ficient to engage within an aperture 20 of the
Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views taken ver plate O when the plate is shifted downwardly
tically through the device respectively on lines from the position shown in Figures 2 and 5 to
4-4 and 5-5 of Figure 2, igure 4 showing the the position shown in Figures 1 and 4, the aper 55
, 55, parts in the position as seen in Figure i and Fig ture or perforation 20 being then concealed be
 2 2,117,809
neath the lower shields 6. In this position the opening therethrough approximately in the cen
plate to is locked against upward movement un tral area thereof and being otherwise of an im
til the cards 8, which may be ordinary playing penetrable material, a rectangular frame in which
cards, are shifted beneath the two cross pieces the plate is slidable between two positions, have
and between the latter, and the adjacent surfaces ing portions embracing and concealing all of the
of the glass plate ?o so that the locking piece or edges of the plate in both positions thereof and t
detent 9 is forced out of the aperture or per also having cross pieces in yielding contact with
foration 20 permitting the plate to be shifted the opposite faces of the plate and including
upwardly from the normal locked position of shields normally concealing the plate opening
10 Figures 1 and 4 to the position shown in Figures
2 and 5 wherein its aperture or perforation 20 in one position of the latter, and relatively thin 10
cards of penetrable material insertable between
is located approximately at the center of the the plate and the said cross pieces of the frame for
cross piece rings 4. concealing the plate opening when the latter is
The plate is at this time in position so that it
15 may be readily penetrated by a pointed pencil moved to shift its opening away from the said
shields. 5
or other pointed implement generally indicated at 2. A device of the character described com
2 in Figure 5 simultaneous with the penetration prising
of the cards 8 and it is obviously an easy matter Openingatherethrough
plate of rectangular outline having an
approximately in the cen
to manipulate or shift the plate 10 to this posi
20 tion while inserting the cards in position, without tral area thereof and being otherwise of an im
penetrable material,
it being apparent that the plate is being sh fted, which the plate is slidable a rectangular frame in 20
especially in view of the fact that the plate has having portions embracingbetween two positions,
and concealing all of
been previously locked and nothing is required the edges of the plate in both positions thereof
but the insertion of the cards between the plate
25 and the frame cross pieces to release the plate and also having cross pieces in yielding contact
with the opposite faces of the plate and includ
for movement. It is especially difficult to detect ing shields normally concealing the plate open
any movement of the plate under the operator's ing in One position of the latter, and relatively
manipulation where the plate is formed of glass thin cards of penetrable material insertable be
or similar transparent material.
30 Thus with the pointed pencil or other ihple tween the plate and the said cross pieces of the
ment penetrating both of the cards f8 it is frame for concealing the plate opening when
the latter is moved to shift its opening away from
plain to the observer that the apparently ins the said shields, one of said shields having means
penetrable plate 0 has also been penetrated and engageable in the opening of the plate to normally
the operator after withdrawing the pencil or lock the latter in its first mentioned position
35 other penetrating implement then removes the
and releasable from the plate upon insertion of
cards 8 and in the same motion with his other a card between the plate and the respective shield. 35
hand shifts the plate O downwardly from the 3. A trick device comprising a plate having a
position shown in Figures 2 and 5 to the posi single aperture spaced from the edges thereof and
tion shown in Figures 1 and 2. This is of curse otherwise impenetrable, a frame in which the
accomplished before the cards have been fully plate is shiftable in one direction between two
Withdrawn to expose the otherwise unconcealed positions and in which the edges of the plate are 40
aperture or perforation 20. The result is that concealed in both positions of the latter, said
when the cards have been entirely removed the frame having portions crossing opposite faces of
plate, 0 has been shifted downwardly until the the plate and forming shields normally overlying
aperture or perforation 20 is concealed, inde and concealing the aperture of the plate in one 45
pendent of the cards, by the lower shiels 6 position of the latter, and relatively thin pene
and the locking projection or detent 9 has en trable cards of opaque material insertable be
tered the aperture or perforation 20 and com tween said plate and the crossing portions of the
pleted the locking of the plate in its lowered posi frame for concealing the aperture of the plate in
50 tion so that examination in the hands of the another position of the latter.
audience again discloses an unmovable and ap 4. A trick device comprising a plate having a 50
parently impenetrable plate. single aperture spaced from the edges thereof
The insertion of the cards laterally beneath and otherwise impenetrable, a frame in which the
the cross pieces is facilitated by the flaring guide
55 ears f of the cross pieces and it is obvious that plate is shiftable in one direction between two
positions and in which the edges of the plate are 55
but little skill, patience and practice is required concealed
to enable the young as well as the old to so frame having in both positions of the latter, said
shift the plate O. during insertion and removal the portions crossing opposite faces of
of the cards as to leave the audience unaware and plate and forming shields normally overlying
concealing the aperture of the plate in one
that the plate has been shifted at all. This is position of the latter, and relatively thin pene
especially true bearing in mind that the plate trable cards of opaque material insertable be
is rigidly locked at the start of operations and tween
similarly locked when the operation has been frame said plate and the crossing portions of the
completed as well as the fact that the operator anotherforposition concealing the aperture of the plate in
.65 is not required to do anything by way of locking having a lockingofprojection the latter, one of said shields
engageable in the
Or release of the plate beyond the mere inser aperture of the plate in the first mentioned posi 65
tion and removal of the cards. W. .
The device as a whole is simple and inexpen tion of the latter and releasable from the aper
ture by the insertion of the corresponding card
sive, is calculated to bafle all those unfamiliar between the locking projection and the plate.
70 with its secret of operation, may be readily made 5. A trick device comprising a flat sliding mem
of a durable nature, and v will obviously be both . ber having an aperture therein spaced from the 70
amusing and amazing in use. . . edges thereof, and otherwise of an impenetrable
What is claimed is: nature, a frame in which said member is shift
1. A device of the character described com able between two positions, having means em
75 prising a plate of rectangular. outline having an bracing and concealing the edges of said sliding 75
 2,117,809 3
member and also having crossing portions along faces of the member normally overlying and con
opposite faces of the member normally overlying cealing the apertures thereof in one position of
and concealing the aperture thereof in one posi said sliding member, relatively thin penetrable
tion of said sliding member, and relatively thin elements insertable between said sliding member
and said crossing frame portions for concealing 5
5 penetrable elements insertable between said slid the aperture of the sliding member in the other
Y r ing member and said crossing frame portions for position of the latter, and a locking piece carried
concealing the aperture of the sliding member in
the other position of the latter. by the crossing portions of the frame for engage
6. A trick device comprising a flat sliding mem ment in the aperture of the sliding member to
10 ber having an aperture therein spaced from the lock the latter in its first mentioned position and 10.
edges thereof, and otherwise of an impenetrable yieldably free of the aperture to release the slid
nature, a frame in which said member is shiftable ing member for movement upon the insertion of
between two positions, having means embracing said penetrable elements.
and concealing the edges of Said sliding member 8. A trick device comprising a frame, a plate
5 and also having crossing portions along opposite of impenetrable material slidable in said frame 5
faces of the member normally overlying and con and having an opening therein, yieldable holding
cealing the apertures thereof in one position of means carried by said frame on opposite sides
said sliding member, relatively thin penetrable thereof to hold opaque penetrable materia on
elements insertable between said sliding member opposite faces of said plate and to conceal said
20 and said crossing frame portions for concealing plate opening from view, and locking means car 20
the aperture of the sliding member in the other ried by one of said yieldable holding means for
position of the latter, and means releasable upon engagement in the opening of the plate to lock
the plate normally against sliding movement in
the insertion of said penetrable elements for nor the frame and releasable upon insertion of the
mally locking the sliding member in its first men
25 tioned position. E. material between the last mentioned 25
7. A trick device comprising a flat sliding mem holding means and the plate to permit sliding
movement of the plate in the frame to shift the
ber having an aperture therein spaced from the opening of the plate from concealed position to
edges thereof, and Otherwise of an impenetrable permit penetration of the penetrable material on
nature, a frame in which said member is shiftable opposite sides of said
30 between two positions, having means embracing plate with said opening 30
and concealing the edges of said sliding member concealed by the opaque penetrable material.
LUDWG, KRUG.
and also having crossing portions along opposite