US2666646A

US2666646A - Playing card dealing device

Info

Publication number: US2666646A
Application number: US218153A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cicero Frank
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-03-29
Filing date: 1951-03-29
Publication date: 1954-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1971-01-19

Description

Jan. 19, 1954 n FQ CICERO 2,666,646

PLAYING CARD DEALING DEVICE V Filed March 29, 1951 INVENT OR FI@ um ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1954 v i UNITED; :STATES PATENT OFFICE l 2,666,646 l .Y PLAYmc. CARD DEALING DEVICE Frank Cicero, Los Angeles, Calif. f Y Application March 29, 1951, Serial No. 218,153

My inve'ntion relates to card dealingdevices particularly rfor playing cards. It is a general object of my invention to provide an inexpensive device, the construction of which would be both useful equipment and an interesting novelty of considerable simplicity and sturdiness, of outstanding attraction and of desirable performance. This smartly designed device, light in weight, can be held completely under the hand while resting the wrist on the table. It actually takes only one hand to deal the cards with it. By easily pressing down with the finger a protruding wide knob on the cover and letting it up, the device will infallibly shoot outthe top'card of a pack resting on the bottom and, by repeating the action,1

will eject singularly each card to the last one without any .physical harm being done to them. It operates rapidly, noiselessly, and without fatigue crhardship to the operator. It ejects with `precision even to the far end of large tables and `moreover makes it hard on the player who likesto pull tricks.

It is to be noted that particular attention has been devoted in obtaining a plan lfor a construction of moldable materials such as of colorful and transparent keratin or other similar plastic or alloy as faras the box, the cover and the knob is concerned; however it iswithin the intent of this inventionto use metal, wood and other material, if desired.

The present device consists of a small box or receptacle of a rm material with four upright sides and a bottom and has a hinged-on cover which iscornprised also of four sides and of a suitably shaped top, said cover being locked to the box when in closed position. An enclosure of upright vwalls is within the box to form a card t magazine to hold in place the pack of cards which restsrhorizontally on the bottom; however, it will be seen that said enclosure is not a necessary ceilinggby ribs and means tl'iereforan'dv it has a' transverse pin 'at one end to' ride A6r slideA yalong r9 claims. (c1. 27s- 149) 10 element of the'constructicn and actually it providesla larger space for the installation of an.

'litiA the interior edges or tracks of a gashed quad rangular tunnel of a form similar to an up-sidedown and inverted Y in the operating knob to e transmit the latters downward'and upward motion into forward Aand backward motion of the connection blade to swing by recoil a card-ejecting hammer which is supported by other ribs and means at the opposite end.

Detailed description Fig. 1 is the left side-.elevation of the device, its front and back being respectively located at the left and at the right; w

Fig. 2 is its plan View, with the ypack of cards omitted though showing a card partly ejected;

Fig. 3 is a section of'view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2 the cover and pillars not being shown;

Fig. 4 is a section of view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3 and shows the knob centrally sectioned and, more clearly, where-at the connection blade is `activated because of the track formed by the gashed tunnel in the knob and because it is aided by a specially formed at spring thereon properly assembled;

Fig. v5 is a section of view taken on line V-V of Fig. 3 and shows complete inthe knob a preferred valve-lever assemblage, which is not shown fully in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 shows the specially formed at spring in a full view. n

Referring to the numbers on the drawings: I is the box or card-receptacle; 2 is the cover; 3 is the hinge; 4 are spring metal locks carried by the box vand adaptable to be hooked on incisions at the cover; 5 are the walls extending up at a rightangle to the sides of the box where-within the pack of cards 6 is enclosed and rests on the bottom; lis a card shown as it is being ejected through an exit 8 on the front of the box; 9 is the hand-operated knobv provided with the gashed tunnel or groove of inverted Y shape in cross section; I 0 are the U-shaped pillars that support and guide the knob and are preferably molded in one piece with the cover; II are the coil extension springs placed within the knob, one at each end thereof, held up bymetal caps I2 resting on ytop of the pillars and secured to the knob at the lower end in order to normally force the knob upwardly; I 3 are the oblique elastic suction cups carried by the knob to pick up-quickly the top card andcurve it at the same time in order to prevent the latter-.from sucking up the next one or next one below, by. eiectively-eliminating-the air drag which would otherwise impede the quick' uplift of a single card:

I4 is the connecting metal blade or a connection means held to a stabile degree and guided by supporting means carried by the cover and consisting of two sets of walls or ribs I5, extended parallel downwardly from the ceiling, and of pins or struts crossing through said ribs. The blade IIIL has elongated apertures whereby it rests on said pins or struts in order to be free flor forward and backward motion; I6 is a short pin solidly extending through and at;y arightfangle td the-blade Wand-1. it may be; cappedwith a rolling stock, or capsto-v lessen the friction with the tracks of the knob and with the specially formed flat spring I'I se?. cured centrally within an enlarge; I,1 e 1 ii; ,Q fn.the,

lower portion of the tunnel formed in the knob?y I8 is a compression coil spring, whichirnpagstsfaire;v recoil to the blade I4 and it surrounds thedblavde` i4 in between the ribs I5 and Ais-securedem wat its back end, to force I4 toward the baoldatkallg times. It should be noted that the extension springs i2 must have aiy combined null powersuperiior to. the one of: the, compression'. springA lag in4 orderI to efieoit the automatic uplift of the knob, Qrice thishas been. pressed down,.- withy the' fingers. When theknob-setspressedi down, the front end f the, blade-1.4;.becauseofjthe nin-I5.. will Y seemingly follow-,- un ,the lower. slant portion or leg ofthe groove or tunhelgintheicenter, oithd knob; then the pin IB pushes the blade spring Il forward and puter-:its-wamasishown in Fig. 4, and continues upwardlyvuntil a card has been picked upvandv then; once the pressure ori-the knob is let` go, it will-'f'ollofr automatically the tracks or edges of the tunnel :back downwardly; this time, however, thepinyIE-'will-V rollover the edges of'- thevspringfil'; which serves'as a bridge over the junctionof thetracks, and down until it is free toY snap bacle. Inthismannerthe back endof the blade iwilli-,activatet-he- Cardi-ejecteinghammeror blade memberl I5" which shouldl have a rubber-'tipwhere-it: hits the; card; The

hammer- I 91-is freely suspended, intermediate y its ends,A by alcrossing rod; or'strutZU; whielrisjheld'f in place by-f supporting walls-'orribs2j` opi-'the cover 2, and it is conveniently connectedvtot'he blade iik-bye.v couple off pins 221,V secured on the blade similarly-to- I Sfthat'- willl push` Yforth; and,A backthe upperportion-toi the hammer-- since; this g is preferably made of sheet metalancihasjanarrow Uf-like Slot; whereethrougn thebladey L4 travels. 23 arevsmall tubes flared at*bothendsv to hold -in :place-the` suction i cupsagainst-the` knob andalso -serve as air-passage'into thefcups when` these are automatically unplugged 4atfthe'proper.' time bylevers'Zl,1 that-fis when-the latters ,turned up ends or lips will lhitjtheceiling ofrthe cover, in the operation.` Theharedljtubes 2 3-` may be. substituted --by` similar means vof ythe removable;

type if made in--two pieces or; as-it' is apparent;if;`

molded as single unitswith the` suctionjcups, I3:

The part of the-levers that restsjon` tubes 2j3".

should be lined with rubber orgrnaohihedgsoias .to be air-tight. 25-are-propsl or fulcrumsV secured vertically` onbthe knobbeneaththe levers ,atavv right angle thereto and preferablymade of pieces.f

ofI sheet metal-cia width larger thangtheleversh and eachghave theAupper/endreducedin width to form ra shoulder;saidfredueedjend of the Aful:v

crums sticks throughfan-- kaperture provid-Qd; on; the levers whichrest onsaidjshoulders duringthe operation.l f 26 are flat-springs having. one` end placed longitudinally over theV leverswtoforce, 23; whileat `the -o.ther.,v

them down onthe;ltu 'sw A they are-welded-tome oi ,saidreducediendsof may be secured otherwise to the knob. For the assemblage relative to the levers a hole or cutout has been provided on the knob, as shown.

2'I are four angular blades fastened as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 to four of the walls 5 and have a short and very :Iiexible tip extended horizontallyy preferably for a little length over the pack of cards. The card being brought up curved by the oblique suction cups may pass through said foilr.tips-either--freely orbyibrushingthem away, denendentmn how-'much= saidfl'exible tips extend over the pack of cards. Once the card is released by the suction cups and resumes the flat shape, itmay drop and slide upon the four flexible tips while simultaneously being ejected out through thecard-exit 8 by the prompt blow of the, ejemV nghammer I9. A light flat spring 28 fastenedl inside onf-the front of the cover also guides. and aides the ejection of said card by speeding up the return to its flat shape. Another springVy similar to 28 mayv be fastened on the ceilingnthereabout' to lightly press downupon the. backportion of the card being elevated. The two rear flexible blades'rshould be placed higher thanl the twok in front; the card-,exit should be below the horizontal' level ofthe suction cups in unoperatedj position so that the card is ejected inaplaneangular. to the surface ofthe table and willhit it,.very quickly, thus performing a satis.- fa-tlOrY ejection;

Whil'el have hereinv shown my card dealing4 device as embodied" in a preferred'v form of constructioinby way of. exampleitwillbe apparent thatfurther alterationsor modications and furfther. adjustmentshand additions might be made in theA construction without departingy from the spirity of' the invention. Consequently, without limiting,r myself in ,thisrespect Il'claim as my invention:

1i. A. card; dealingt device including: a receptacler adaptable-.asa card magazine; a ,cover op.- erative to be firmly locked on said receptacle. and to vpermitaccess intothe same; an operating mechanism operative topi'ckup. and eject each` top cardfrom. apackresting horizontally. in. the magazine;,means ,onand depending within the cover-,housing andsupporting said mechanism; meanssupported on .the cover, andverticall'y operative toiactivate said mechanism,said means operative to activate said' operatingmechanism includingptwo VU .-shapedguide members extending* vertically, through said cover;, knob means, slidable between` andA within the guide` membersV andop'erative inl ,one direction; spring means operativeto return saidjknob meansto its original positiQlLtlaCk meansonsaid knob means4 formed by` a" grooved portion `of inverted Y shape Ain crossse'ctiorl, .and said operating mechanism including: a connection means carriedbya portion of`v saidsupporting means of the cover andadaptable to. be kengaged atV the frontA end Afor forward and 'backwardfmotion by saidltrackhmeans; and alcaifd ejection means carried by Vanother portion ofgsaidsupportingmans of .the cover and engageable g by' the: back end of saidY connection means.

`2j.l A deviceas de lned'inclaiml and including: anV enlargementlo saidinverted Y-shaped groove adjacentthe lower vpart (and, the point. at which the legs lof saidinvertedNfshaped groove intertrack means.; and ,atransverse,pinmeanscarried,

by' said connection meansand engaseable .by the tract;I neans` andv alterna telypy4 thepecial blade spring, said track means and blade spring and transverse pin means being adaptable to transmit the downward and upward travel of the knob into a forward and backward activation of the connection means.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said back end of the connection means includes: stud means carried by the connection means whereby ythe latters forward and backward motion causes activation of the card ejection means.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 in which the connection means includes: elongated apertures whereby said connection means is carried by the aforesaid portion of the support means of the cover; and pin means carried by said support means transversely through the elongated apertures of the connection means, said apertures and pin means permitting forward and backward travel of the connection means.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 in which said card ejection means comprises: a blade member pivoted intermediate its ends by the aid of a por- -tion of the supporting means of the cover; a slot on one end of the blade member where-through said back end of the connection means is inserted; and a pair of transverse pins carried by said connection means on opposite sides ofthe blade whereby the connection means and the card ejection means are operatively connected together.

6. A device as defined in claim 4 andV including: a spring means disposed in between said aforesaid portion of the supporting means, surrounding a portion of said connection means intermediate its ends and having the backend secured to the connection means, the forward motion of the latter causing compression of the spring means and the latters recoil pushing backwardly the connection means, this in turn causing the ejection means to strike the sucked Yup card, said recoil and strike being effected when said front end of the connection means is released by the bottom of the front end of said groove.

7. A card dealing device including: a receptacle adaptable as a card magazine; a cover operative to be firmly locked on said receptacle and to permit access into the same; an operating mechanism operative to pick up and eject each top card from a pack resting horizontally in the magazine; means on the cover housing and supporting said mechanism; means supported on the cover and vertically operative to activate said mechanism; said operating mechanism including: a knob means; a. set of resilient suction cups carried by the knob means and having the bases thereof oblique in relation to the plane of a pack of cards resting in the receptacle, said cups being adaptable to pick up by compression only the top card of the pack without the latter sucking up the next one or next ones below; air inlet means for said oblique suction cups; and automatic control means for the air inlet means whereby the sucked up card is releasable.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 in which said air control means includes: a lever normally closing the air inlet means; a turned up lip at one end of said lever operative to open automatically the air inlet means in the operation; a fulcrum for said lever and supporting the same; and spring means normally forcing the lever closed on the air inlet means, the fulcrum being secured to the knob means, the lever having an aperture wherethrough projects a reduced end of the fulcrum, the aforesaid spring means being connected to said end of the fulcrum.

9. A device as defined in claim where said operating mechanism further includes: means operative by spring reaction and adaptable to strike the sucked up card; an apertureon the receptacle where-through the card may be ejected, the aperture being located below the horizontal level of the bases of the suction cups; spring means depending from the cover and adaptable to press down on said sucked up card; and slide means secured in the receptacle in a slant plane and whereupon the card may drop and slide, the slant slide means, the location of the aperture and the relative spring reactions being adaptable to effect a substantial ejection of the cards.

FRANK CICERO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,366,264 Kolomyjec 1 Jan. 18, 1921 2,533,932 Hayek Dec. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 450,242 France Jan. 14, 1913 535,222 Germany Oct. 8, 1931