US2048942A - Card dealing device - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet I Filed July 17, 1954 July 28, 1936. H. l. MQCONNELL 2,048,942

CARD DEALING DEVICE Filed July 17, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z'e 29 31 39 II 422 24 41 22 J55 53 J8 i4. 16 27 Patented July 28, 1936 UNHTED STATES ATENT QFFiE 20 Claims.

- My invention relates to a card dealing device of the general type disclosed in the application for patent filed by Harry E. McCoy and myself on September 12, 1932, Serial No. 632,678, and it is the principal object of my present invention to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of the card dealing device set forth in the aforesaid application as well as other existing forms of card dealing devices.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a card dealing device of relatively simple, practical and inexpensive construction that will be highly effective in quickly and accurately deal- ,7 ing cards into a number of playing hands and further, to provide a device of the character referred to having a rotatable turret, within which is formed a magazine that receives the pack of cards and from which the cards are automatically ejected one at a time as a result of rotation of the turret and consequent actuation of certain individual card ejecting means within said turret.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a card dealing device having card ejection means that engages only the upper one of the cards in the pack contained in the magazine and said ejection means also including a pair of ejection rollers which effect the discharge of the upper card of the pack from the dealing device, further, to provide the device with an ejection opening that permits only one card at a time to be ejected through said opening and further, to provide simple and efiicient means for depressing those cards of the pack within the magazine below the uppermost card, while the latter is being ejected, in order to relieve said uppermost card from the upward pressure imparted to the cards within the magazine during the card ejection operation.

A further object of my invention is, to provide simple and efiicient means whereby the turret may be rotated in only a forward direction so as to eifect a proper actuation of the card ejection means.

- With the foregoing and other objects in View my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a card dealing device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device.

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of the device taken looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 3 in Fig. 2. r

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the device taken looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the card dealing device with the case or cover removed.

Fig. '6 is an enlarged vertical section taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken approximately on the line l---'! of Fig. '3. I

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view partly in section and showing the uppermost one of the pack of cards as it appears while being ejected from the device.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line l0l0 of Fig. 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, I0 designates a circular base plate, preferably of metal and applied to the underface thereof is a layer "ll of corrugated I or sponge rubber that functions to hold the dealing device firmly in position upon a smooth surface while the device is being operated and further, said underlayer of rubber prevents the device from marring or scratching smooth finished surfaces.

Instead of using a layer of rubber on the unders'ide of the base, as illustrated, a number of rubber buttons or knobs may be applied to the underside-of the base and function as friction producing members to hold the dealing device firmly on the surface of the table or the like.

Formed on top of base It, is a centrally arranged concentric upstanding flange 12 that has a support and bearing for the rotating turret.

Formed on top of base it), adjacent the edge thereof, is a concentric upstanding flange 13 provided in its upper edge with rack teeth.

Supported for rotation on flange I 2, is a turret, comprising a base plate l4, side walls IS, a front wall it and a top plate H, the latter being located in the horizontal plane below the upper edges of the side walls I'5.

Depending from the center of base plate M, is a short cylindrical stud l8 that passes through a bearing l9, formed in the center of base It and to retain the turret in operative position -*on the base, a washer 20 is secured to the lower end of stud 18 on the underside of base I0 by suitable means, preferably a screw 2|.

The front wall 'I 6 may be considerably narrower than the width of the turret and formed integral with or fixed to the upper portion of said front wall at a point midway between the side walls of the turret is an upstanding lug or finger 22 having a curved upper edge that is positioned directly beneath the front edge of top plate 11.

The slot between the upper edge of lug or finger '22 and the surface of top plate i1, constitutes an ejection opening for the cards that are dealt by the machine and the width of. this slot is such as to permit only one card at a time to pass through said slot. In order to facilitate the movement of the cards through the slot, the inner upper edge of the lug or finger 22 is curved upwardly and outwardly toward the ejection slot as illustrated in Fig. 8.

J ournaled in bearings 23 that project forwardly from the upper portion of the side walls of the turret, is a horizontally disposed shaft 24 that occupies a position immediately in front of the front wall l6 and mounted on the ends of this shaft are . pinions 25 and 26.

Mounted on shaft 24, adjacent the ends of front wall l6, are short card ejection rollers 21, preferably formed of rubber.

Formed in the upper portions of the bearings 23, are short vertically disposed slots 28 and passing therethrough are the end portions of a shaft 29 that occupies a positiondirectly above and parallel with shaft '24 and secured to one end of this shaft 29, is a pinion 3|! that meshes with pinion 26. g

Mounted on shaft 29, directly above the rollers 21, are card ejection rollers 3| identical with rollers 2'! and the respective pairs of rollers 21 and 3| cooperate to move the card forwardly. as it passes through the ejection slot or opening. 7 Shaft 29 is normally urged downward so that the peripheries of feed rollers 3| engage the .peripheries of rollers 21 by means of a spring or springs 32, the rear ends of which are secured to top plate l1 and the free ends of which bear on top of shaft 29.

Journaled on the lowerportion of the outer face of one of the side walls of the turret in line with pinion 25, is a gear wheel 33, the teeth of which mesh with the rack teeth onflange I3 and journaled on the same side wall, is an intermediate gear wheel 34, the teeth of which mesh with gear wheel 33 and with the teeth of pinion 25 Thus as the turret is rotated on the base, rotary motion resulting from the engagement of gear wheel 33 with the rack teeth on flange 3, is transmitted to shaft 24 that carries pinion 25.

Journaled in suitable bearings formed in the upper portions of the side walls of the turret and on the opposite side thereof from the parallel shafts 24 and 29, is a shaft 35 and mounted on the end thereof that projects through the side wall on which gear wheel 33 is mounted, is a gear wheel 36 that meshes with said gear wheel 33.

Pivoted on the side wall ofthe turret adjacent gear wheel 36, is a gravity pawl 31, the point of which engages the teeth of gear Wheel 36, so as to prevent reverse rotation thereof and of the shaft 35, on which said gear wheel is mounted.

Secured on shaft 35 at points inset from the side walls of the turret, are collars 38 and seated therein, just below their peripheries, are short pins or pointed members 39 which as the shaft is rotated, engage the upper surface of the upper one of the cards contained in the magazine within the turret and force or .feed said upper card through the ejection opening so that the forward edge of said card may be engaged and discharged outwardly by the pairs of rollers 21 and 3| Formed in the top plate I! of the magazine, below the collars 38, are openings Il which permit the pins or pointed members to engage the uppermost card of the pack.

.' Seated in shaft 35, adjacent the collars 38, are radially'.dispo'sed pins or fingers 40 that .are disposed approximately to '90" from the pins or pointed members and these fingers are arranged to engageitheuppensurface of the .cardin the pack immediately below the uppermost card that is engaged by the pins and exert downward pressure on the underlying cards so as to relieve the uppermost card from pressure while the same is being drawn through the ejection opening by the pairs of rollers 21 and 3|.

In Fig. 8 the card engaging pins 39 are shown at the beginning of their engagement with the uppermost card and in Fig. 9 the uppermost card is shown in engagement between the pairs of feed rollers with the fingers 40 in the positions they assume while imparting downward movement to the underlying cards in the pack so as to relieve the uppermost card from pressure while it is being'ejected by the pairs of feed rollers.

The chamber within the turret constitutes a magazine for the reception of the deck of cards to be dealt by the machine and arranged to move vertically within said chamber, is a plate 4 I, preferably formed of thin sheet metal that serves as asupport for the cards that are placed in the magazine.

The front edge of this plate terminates immediately to the rear of the front wall l6 and projecting from the rear edge of said plate are ears 42 that are adapted to be manually engaged so as to depress the plate when the deck of cards is placed thereon. v

A suitable spring for instance, a coil spring such as 43, is positioned between the central portion of plate 4| and the center of base plate M of the turret and the ends of said spring are suitably secured to the card deck supporting plate 4| and thebase plate of the turret.

Plate 4| is provided with a pair of longitudinally disposed slots that extend rearwardly from the front edge thereof in alignment with the openings in plate said slots being shown by dotted lines 43, Fig. 5.

Formed on the outer face of the turret side wall IS, on which pinions26 and 30 are located, is a vertically disposed bearing 44 and arranged for sliding movement therethrough, is a stop pin 45.

The lower end of'this pin is adapted to engage stop lugs 46 that project upwardly from base plate I0, just outside the toothed flange l3 and these lugs are located apart, so that when pin 45 is in its lowermost position, the turret cannot be rotated more than a quarter turn.

Pivotally connected to the upper end of pin 45, is one end of a lever 41 fulcrumed intermediate its ends and connected to this lever between its fulcrum and the pivotal point of pin 45, is the upper end of a retractile spring 48, the lower end of which is connectedto the adjacent side wall of the turret.

Removably secured to the turret, preferably by means of screws 49, that are seated in the upper portions of the ends of the side Walls I5, is a case or cover 50 that wholly encloses the turret and operating parts of the device and the skirt portion 5| of said case or cover encircles the edge of base plate l0. case or cover is preferably formed in a single piece from metal or composition and it may be finished, colored and decorated as desired.

Formed through the wall of this case or cover on one side and in horizontal alignment with the ejection opening between lip 22 and plate H is a horizontally disposed slot 52 through which the cards are ejected by the pairs of rollers 21 and 3|.

Formed in the opposite portion of the side wall of the case or cover, is an opening 53 that extends from the top plate H to the base plate I4 of the turret and which opening is of sufiicient size to permit the ready insertion of a deck of playing cards and which latter when inserted in the magazine occupy a position between spring pressed plate 4| and top plate 11, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

The lips or fingers 42 that project from plate t! extend a short distance outwardly through opening 53.

A vertically disposed pin 56 is arranged to slide freely through a bearing 55 that is formed in the top of the turret and the lower end of this pin bears on the free end of lever 41.

Formed on the upper end of pin 54, is a knob 56 that is adapted to be engaged by the thumb and fingers and pressed downwardly to elevate stop pin 45 and to impart rotary motion to the turret and the enclosing case or cover 50.

The operation of my improved card dealing device is as follows:

The deck of cards is placed in the magazine between plates l1 and M and this operation is facilitated by placing one edge of the deck of cards-on the projecting fingers 42 of plate 45 and exerting suflicient downward pressure to move the spring held plate downwardly a sufficient distance to permit the deck of cards to be properly positioned beneath plate IT.

The operator of the device or the dealer, now places the thumb and the first two fingers of the hand on knob 56 and moves same downward, which action swings lever 47 on its fulcrum, thereby elevating pin 35 so that the lower end is positioned above the plane occupied by the upper ends of the stops 46 and the turret and enclosing case or cover are now rotated with the result that the cards are dealt one at a time and delivered into four separate piles equally spaced about the dealing device.

The knob 56 engaged by the thumb and fingers functions as a crank, to conveniently rotate the turret and its cover and the downward pressure exerted by the thumb and fingers tends to press the entire device against its supporting surface and consequently prevents the device from "slipping or shifting its position during card dealing operations.

As the turret is rotated as just described, gear wheel 33 meshing with the teeth on flange i3 is rotated and through gear wheel 34 pinion 25 and shaft 24 carrying same is rotated.

The rotary motion thus imparted to shaft 24 is -imparted to shaft 29 through pinions 26 and 30, and as a result, the pairs of rollers 21 and 3t will be rotated toward each other so as to draw the card that is moved through the ejection opening outwardly and deliver said card through slot 52.

The rotary motion of gear wheel 33 is transmitted to gear wheel 36 and shaft 35 on which said gear wheel is mounted and as shaft 35 is rotated, the pins or pointed members 39 will engage the upper surface of the uppermost card in the pack and push said card forwardly through the magazine and through the ejection opening above the lip or finger 22 so that the forward edge of said card will be engaged be.- tween the pairs of rollers 2'! and 3!. These rollers frictionally engage the card and deliver same outwardly through slot 52 and the card falls on the. table a short distance away from the dealing device.

Immediately after the uppermost card has been forced forwardly by the pins or pointed elements 39, the ends of the pressure'pins or fingers at will engage the upper surface of the card lying immediately beneath the uppermost card that is being ejected from the realer and as a result all of the cards in the pack below the uppermost one that is being ejected will be pressed downward within the magazine against the res'istance offered by spring 43, as illustrated'in Fig. 9, thus relieving the uppermost card of the upward pressure produced by the spring, with the result that the frictional resistance to the card that is being ejected is minimized while being ejected by the rollers 2'1, 3!.

Ihe gear ratio between the circular rack formed on flange l3 and thegear wheels 33 and 36 is such that shaft 35 on which gear wheel 36 is mounted, makes four complete revolutions for each complete rotation of the turret and as a result the cards are dealt in four equally spaced piles or hands on the table adjacent the device.

While my improved card dealing device is particularly intended for dealing four hands for the playing of the game of bridge, said device may be utilized for dealing various numbers of hands inthe play of other card games.

Stop pin 45 when in normal lowered position prevents the turret from being rotated more than a quarter of a turn by engagement with one of the stop lugs G6 and the pawl 31 prevents the turret from being reversely rotate-d.

Thus it will be seen that'I have provided a card dealing device that is relatively simple in construction. inexpensive of manufacture and which is very efiective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved card dealing device may be made and substituted for those herein shown and. described without departing from the'spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended. claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotation on said base, a card magazine within said turret, a member mounted for rotation on the turret above the magazine therein, means whereby said member is rotated as the turret is rotated on the base and means carried by and projecting beyond the periphery of said rotating member for engaging the uppermost one of the cards in the magazine and moving the same forwardly through said magazine cooperating means on said base and turret for normally limiting the rotary movement of said turret, manually operable means for releasing said rotary movement limiting means and for rotating said turret.

2. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotation on said base, a card magazine within said turret, a member mounted for rotation onthe turret above the magazine therein, means whereby said memberis rotated as the turret is rotated on the base, means carried by said rotating member for engaging the uppermost one of the cards in the magazine and moving the same forwardly through said magazine and means carried by said rotating member for depressing those cards in the pack below the engaged uppermost card simultaneously with the card magazine Within said turret, a member mounted for rotation on the turret above the magazine therein, means whereby said member is rotated as the turret is rotated on the base, means carried by said rotating member for engagig the uppermost one of the cards in the magazine means carried by said rotating member for depressing those cards in the pack below the engaged uppermost card simultaneouslly with the movement of said uppermost card forwardly through the magazine and moving the same forwardly through said magazine, a pair of rollers journaled on the turret in position to receive the uppermost card as it is moved forwardly from the magazine and means for driving said rollers as the turret is rotated.

4. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotation on said base, a card magazine within said turret, a member mounted for rotation on the turret above the magazine therein, means whereby said member is rotated as the turret is rotated on the base, means carried by said rotating member for engaging the uppermost one of the cards in the magazine and moving the same forwardly through said magazine, manually releasable means for limiting the rotation of the turret in a forward direction and means for holding said turret against reverse rotary movement.

5. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotary movement on said base, a magazine within said turret, a member mounted for rotation in the turret above said magazine, means whereby said member is rotated as the turret is rotated on the base and a plurality of pointed members carried by said rotating member for engaging the uppermost one of a deck of cards positioned within the magazine and moving said uppermost card forwardly through the turret.

6. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotary movement on said base, a magazine within said turret, a member mounted for rotation in the turret above said magazine, means whereby said member is rotated as the turret is rotated on the base, a plurality of pointed members carried by said rotating member for engaging the uppermost one of a deck of cards positioned within the magazine and moving said uppermost card forwardly through the turret and said turret provided with an ejection opening that permits the ejection of only one card at a time.

7. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotary movement on said base, a magazine within said turret, a member mounted for rotation in the turret above said magazine, means whereby said member is rotated as the turret is rotated on the base, a plurality of pointed members carried by said rotating member for engaging the uppermost one of a deck of cards positioned within the magazine and moving said uppermost card forwardly through the turret, said turret provided with an ejection opening that permits the ejection of only one card at a time, a pair of rollers journaled on the turret adjacent said ejection opening and means whereby said rollers are driven as the turret is rotated on the base.

8. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotation on said base, said turret having an ejection opening, a magazine within said turret for the reception of a deck of cards, a member mounted for rotation in the turret above said magazine, a pointed member carried by said rotating member for engaging the uppermost one of the deck of cards in the magazine and moving the same forwardly through said ejection opening, a pair of rollers journaled on the turret adjacent the ejection opening and means for simultaneously driving said rotating member and rollers as the turret is rotated on the base.

9. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotation on said base, said turret having an ejection opening, a magazine within said turret for the reception of a deck of cards, a member mounted for rotation in the turret above said magazine, a pointed member carried by said rotating member for engaging the uppermost one of the deck of cards in the magazine and moving the same forwardly throughv said ejection opening, a pair of rollers journaled on the turret adjacent the ejection opening", means for simultaneously driving said rotating member and rollers as the turret is rotated on the base and means carried by the rotating memher for exerting downward pressure on the cards in the deck below the uppermost card as the latter is engaged by the pointed means and moved forwardly through the ejection opening.

10. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotation on said base, said turret having an ejection opening, a magazine within said turret for the reception of a deck of cards, a member mounted for rotation in the turret above said magazine, a pointed member carried by said rotating member for engaging the uppermost one of the deck of cards in the magazine and moving the same forwardly through said ejection opening, a pair of rollers journaled on the turret adjacent the ejection opening, means for simultaneously driving said rotating member and rollers as the turret is rotated on the base, means carried by the rotating member for exerting downward pressure on the cards in the deck below the uppermost card as the latter is engaged by the pointed means and moved forwardly through the ejection opening, manually releasable means for normally limiting the rotary movement of the turret in a forward direction and means for holding the turret against reverse rotary movement.

11. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotation upon and disposed above said base, said turret provided with a card ejection opening, a magazine within said turret for holding a deck of cards, rotating means operable as the turret is rotated on the base, means projecting from the periphery of said rotating means for engaging the uppermost card of the deck within the magazine and moving said card through the ejection opening in the turret, a turret secured to said housing and securing same and covering the base and said housing having an ejection opening in line with the ejection line in the turret.

12. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotation upon and disposed above said base, said turret provided with a card ejection opening, a magazine within said turret for holding a deck of cards, rotating means operable as the turret is rotated on the base,,means projecting from the periphery of said rotating means for engaging the uppermost card of the deck With-r in the magazine and movingsaid card through the ejection opening in the turret, a housing secured to said turret and enclosing same and covering the base, said housing having an ejection opening in line with the ejection opening in the turret, means operable as the turret is rotated on the base for engaging the card as it issues from the ejection opening and delivering said card outwardly through the ejection opening in said housmg.

13. In a card dealing device, the combination with a base, of a turret mounted for rotation upon and positioned above said base, said turret having a magazine, means for normally limiting the rotary movement of the turret on the base, manually engageable means for releasing said rotary movement limiting means and for rotating said turret, a cover secured to and enclosing said turret, said cover having an opening whereby a deck of cards may be inserted in the magazine within the turret and said cover having a card ejection opening.

14. In a card dealing device, the combination with a base, of a turret mounted for rotation upon and positioned above said base, said turret having a magazine, means for normally limiting the rotary movement of the turret on the base, manually engageable means for releasing said rotary movement limiting means and for rotating said turret, a cover secured to and enclosing said turret, said cover having an opening whereby a deck of cards may be inserted in the magazine within the turret, said cover having a card ejection opening and manually engageable means carried by said cover for rotating the same and said turret upon said base.

15. In a card dealing device, the combination with a base, a turret mounted for rotation upon and positioned above said base, a card magazine within said turret, means on the turret for effecting the discharge of the cards one at a time from the magazine, means for normally limiting the rotary movement of the turret on the base, manually engageable means for releasing said rotary movement limiting means and for rotating said turret, means whereby said card discharging means is actuated as the turret is rotated on the base, a cover secured to and enclosing said turret, said cover having an opening whereby a deck of cards may be placed in the magazine and said cover having an opening through which the cards are ejected from the device.

16. In a card dealing device,'the combination with a base, a turret mounted for rotation upon and positioned above said base, a card magazine within said turret, means on the turret for efiecting the discharge of the cards one at a time from the magazine, cooperating means on the base and turret for normally limiting the rotary movement of said turret, means whereby said card discharging means is actuated as the turret is rotated on the base, a cover secured to and enclosing said turret, said cover having an opening whereby a deck of cards may be placed in the magazine, said cover having an opening through which the cards are ejected from the device and a manually engageable member carried by the cover for releasing said rotary movement limiting means and for rotating said turret.

1'7. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotation upon and positioned above said base, said turret having a magazine for the reception of a deck of cards, a member mounted for rotation on the turret above the magazine, means projecting from the periphery of said rotating member for engaging the uppermost one of the cards in the magazine and moving the same forwardly through said magazine, a circular rack on the base, a gear wheel carried by the turret and meshing with the teeth of said rack, driving connections between said gear wheel and said rotatably mounted member whereby the latter is rotated as the turret is rotated on the base and a cover secured to and carried by and enclosing said turret, the magazine therein and said base.

18. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotation upon and positioned above said base, said turret having a magazine and a card ejection opening leading from said magazine, a plate arranged within said magazine, a spring supporting said plate, a member mounted for rotation on the turret and operable as the latter is rotated, means projecting from the periphery of said member for engaging the uppermost one of the cards supported by the plate within the magazine and moving the same through the ejection opening, cooperating means on the turret and base for imparting movement to the card ejection means as the turret is rotated on said base and a cover secured to and carried by and enclosing said turret, the magazine therein and said base.

19. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, a turret mounted for rotation upon and positioned above said base, said turret having a magazine and a card ejection opening leading from said magazine, a plate arranged within said magazine, a spring supporting said plate, a member mounted for rotation on the turret and operable as the latter is rotated, means projecting from the periphery of said member for engaging the uppermost one of the cards supported by the plate within the magazine and moving the same through the ejection opening, cooperating means on the turret and base for imparting movement to the card ejection means as the turret is rotated on said base and a cover enclosing said turret and a cover secured to and carried by and enclosing said turret, the magazine therein and said base.

20. In a card dealing device, a stationary base, friction producing means on the underside of said base, a turret mounted for rotation on said base, said turret having a magazine and a card ejection opening leading from said magazine, a plate within said magazine, a spring supporting said plate, means mounted for operation on the turret for engaging the uppermost one of the cards supported on said plate and moving the same through the ejection opening, means for depressing those cards in the deck below the uppermost card as the latter is moved through the ejection opening, means mounted for operation on the turret for engaging the uppermost card as it emerges from the ejection opening and moving said card outwardly, a gear wheel mounted on the turret and engaging the teeth of the rack on the base, driving connections between said gear wheel and the card ejecting means, means for normally limiting the movement of the turret on the base in a forward direction, means for limiting the movement of the turret on the base in a rearward direction, a cover enclosing the turret, a rod arranged for sliding movement through the cover and adapted as said rod is moved downward to release the means that holds the turret against forward direction and a knob carried by the upper end of said sliding member.

HENRY I. MCCONNELL.

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