US1825673A - Game board - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1931. A. N. LATIMER 1,825,673

GAME BOARD Filed March 22, 1928 /za El- Ha/zda Bra/are K J 10 '1 6 ll 3 2 Sheets-Sheet l Players l l l Namw Oct. 6, 1931. N LAT|MER 1,825,673

GAME BOARD Filed March 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6H0: u c 1 3 Patented Oct. 6, 1931 umrlso STATES ALBER'I." N. LATIHEF, F YORK, N. Y.

the type adapted to be utilized in connection PATENT OFFICE GAME BOARD Application filed much 22, was Serial sarcasm.

Broadly this invention relates to game boards, but it is more especially directed to with the game Ofbridge.

A principal object of this invention is the provision of a game board of this character arranged to show the cards held by each player and means for indicating and recording each play made, and additional means for.

- adaptable in connection with illustrating and above character whichmay be passed from recording a bridge game as played and broadcast by experts over the radio, and permitting the registration of such hands and plays so broadcast for future reference and practice-( I Another object is to provide a board of the player to player and to record each play as made, but further adaptable to show the hands held by each layer and record of the la as made to e ect the working out of ri g'e problems and to improve the efliciency of a player by practice.

Another object of this invention is-the provision of a board of this character having its plane face marked to indicate card positions arranged in 'four a plurality of "ca eard suits so arranged that suitable markers ma be positioned to indicate the hands held an record of plays as made. 1

A still furtherobject is the provision of a game board of this character and an individual means held by each player to indicate the players hand only to prevent the otherlayers from knowing what hand the others eld, the card symbols. being transferable from said individual means to the primary board'to indicatethe play by tricks, as above outlined.-' 1

Another object is the provision of a game board of slightly modified form adapted for use with the individual holders for hands beoups, each of which has positions for each of the fore play, and means for holding the game pieces or card symbols after play and for effecting shufihng of said pieces for new deal,

etc, said modified board also being susceptible of employment with the individual holders and primary board to effect afurtheryariation in play when desired.

Still another important object is'the rovision of a practice board of the type a ve described, suitably constructed of wood,

' paper, leather or the like, susceptible of being easily transported in the pocket or hand bag for utilization in traveling, as well as in the home, club, or wherever it may be desirable to play alone or with other players.

With these and other ob] acts in view, which will become apparent as the description pro ceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described an claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of referen'ce indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved game-board showing the card symbols or game pieces arranged by handsbefore play, and indicating the tricks played. Fig. 2- is a fragmentary cross sectional view of Fig. 1 and through the container for the game pieces. 7

Fig. 3, is a "perspective view of one of the holders for the handsbefore play.

i F i 4 is a plan view of a modified form of boar adapted for individual use or in conjunction with the primary board; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cup shown in Fig. 4. a

The types of game board with which'I am familiar have proven deficient for purposes of individual practice, and in working out bridge problems, and inca ableof readily indicating the hands held y all players and so indicating the play by tricks of each player as to render at a glance just what tricks have been layed in their sequence, plays yet to be ma e, dealer, trump declared, etc., and also being inca able of varying the system of pla etc., an it was to overcome suchdeliciencies and to provide a game board and system of play adapted to variations to expedite working out bridge problems and designed as an eiiicient means of practice to improve an individuals game, and equally 5 susceptible of employment by a number of players, that I designed the game board and associated board and holder forming the subject matter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a game board 1 which may be constructed of any suitable material and foldable if desired, but in the present instance, preferably constructed of wood, bearing markings as hereinafter described.

The face of theboard 1 is divided into two ruled sections A and B, respectively, A is formed with a plurality of vertical columns 2 representing ace, king, queen, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, four, three, and deuce,

denoting value of the cards from ace to deuce, respectively, and above said columns being inscribed Hands before play 3. To the extreme left is the vertical column indicated by the letter P, Players and divided into four groups extending longitudinaL ly across the sections A and B and representing the four players, as North 4, East 5, South 6 and West 7, each of said groups bethe section B being similarly divided into vertical columns 1 to 13 inclusive, representing the possible number of tricks each player may take, and denoted at 12' the Words Play by tricks appearing at the top of said columns as at 13 A suit column D is shown at the left of said section B similar to section A. Separating sections A and B is a vertical column E with the words appearing at the top Trump declared. Following the column 13 is a column W with the word Winner at the top thereof. To the right of said column W is column F divided into four'sections, section 14, with the letter D for Dealer appearing therein, section 15 with the letters N. T. or N 0 trump appearing therein, and section 16 adapted to have markers 0 representing each of the respective suits 8, 9, 10 and 11. for a purpose hereinafter apparent, and section 17 with the word Winner appearing therein.

The card symbols representing the card units corresponding to the deck of 52 cards are employed in connection with the above board as player pieces and while they may be of various types, such as conforming to the configuration of the card suits, colors, 7 in the present instance they are of thumb tacks, each tack bearing a symbol of one of the 52 cards and are adapted to be 05 used in play according to the rules of bridge,

in the form ing divided into four longitudinal columns and are indicated by the letter Z. Additional markers of similar type and denoted by the letter C are employed and when placed in proper positions on the board 1 are adapted to indicate trump declared, .trumps, no trumps, dealer, winner, etc., as hereinafter more fully appearing.

In cases where it is desirable that each player be acquainted with his own hand only, a paddle board 18 is employed, formed with a handle 19 and adapted to be supplied to each player, but for purposes of illustration only one will be referred to, and having markings on its face substantially similar to the left hand of the board 1, but representing one group only, in the present instance, north 4, with a column P representative of the four suits 8', 9, 10 and 11 respectively, and vertical columns 2' representing the various card values,.such as ace, king, queen, jack, etc., and at the extreme right hand a trump column 20, so that as the card symbols are dealt they can be placed in the respective suit and face value positions, so that the hand held may at all times be readily viewed by the holder. This holder of course, represents each individual hand before play, and may be used in conjunction with board lwhere secretive play is desired. The various symbols being removable in course of play to the Play 95 by tricks side of the board in the same manner as above described, in connection with board 1, and the same card symbols Z being 'used.

-ciple not materially different from that of board 1. This board is adapted to be used in conjunction with holder 18 andalso in conjunction with board 1 according to the system of play desired, as hereinafter more fully appearing.

The board is provided with a centrally dis- 1 posed square 21, with each of its four sides formed by a checkered border 22, and four lines are positioned slightly spaced from each of the four sides of the border designating, respectively, a card or suit, namely, Spades 8', Hearts 9, Diamonds 10, and Clubs 11, representing the four play ers respectively, North 4, East 5', South 6 and West 7', and normally positioned in the center of the board is a cup 23 adapted to hold the game pieces for purposes of shuflling, etc.,. as will hereinafter-appear.

The said border is divided into parallel checkered columns 24 and 25 respectively, 24 having the word Play, designated as 26, at the head of each column, and numerals 1 to 13 inserted in the respetive squares, preferably in red, as designated by 27 and the c0lumn 25 bearing the words Tricks won indicated at 28 and having darts or arrows 29 6 counter or marker C in the hold symbols making up the respective cardsuits where the board is to be utilized sepa rate from board 1, the symbols 0 denoting the suits, no trump, dealer, etc., are employed as withboard 1 for a similar purpose and, likewise, are in addition to the card symbols Z used in play.

Within he square 21 facing'each of the players denoted as N, E, .S and W, is a dot or hole 3 1, preferably black, whereis adapted to be positioned a symbol or marker C, denoting the trump suit or N. T. as the case may be, after the full round of declaration has been made, and immediately before the dot 3st is, positionedthe dot-or other suitable marking 35, preferably of a contrasting color such as red, where is adapted to be positioned the marker Q denoting dealer after dealer or distributor has been decided upon.

With further reference to board 1, it will be noted where the same is of suificient thickness, a drawer or container Za for holding, shufiiing, etc., the symbols Z, may be inserted in the recess Z?) in said board, or the.

said container may be suitably cbnstructed separate therefrom, if desired." Having described my game board and cooperating units, I will now describe their operation. In working out a certain problem the card symbols are indicate Z, 52 in number, .representin cards used in bridge, the said symbols or p ayer pieces Z are placed according to desire or deal, so that,North, East, South and West designated as the players, each have 13 symbols or cards.

in connection with the board 1, the pres: 5 ent illustration shows the different bands arranged on Fig. 1, which can be readily seen in a no trump deal. This is then recorded by removing the g) counter denoting No trump, and placing it in the E column ing good cards bid one no trump, East also passes. The game now proceeds according to bridge rules. b' In this iiista gce, with d b 1 Nort i, p ay y tric sis operate y acirlg the pla er pieces Z from A side of fi ure one to side inthecorresponding cdlumns, under the heading Play by tricks;

the winner is then declared pg column, op-

I then does likewise,

opposite North, due'to the fact that South.

no trump suit bid placing red posite the player 1, which here would be 7 North.

in original manner which can be easily done due to the suit arrangement D on both A and B sides, or changing at will for further problems.

From'the foregoing it will be apparent that board 1 may be utilized as a complete practice board in itself, and as above shown the card symbols are placed on the left of A side, according to the hands held by each player, and play begins by transferring the Z symbols from the A side and placing them in column 1 of the B side on the first play; in the second column on the following play, etc., thus representing each practice move until the game is completely worked out as shown in Fig. l where three plays have been made. The winner is declared by placing a red marker G in the respective space incoiumn W.

When it desired to use the'modified form of game board 1' the play proceeds as follows: Select dealer and place symbol D in respective position and then bid, when trump is declared place C marker symbol denoting suit transfer the symbols Z from their location under the heading Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs, respectively, to lines in front of each side denoting the players, as N, S, Eand W according to the deal, 'or where an individual is using board in practice, acclprding to the problem to be worked out.

la dealer placing the symbol desired played in space 1 been consummated by all four players, then place symbol C marker in front of the player who took the last trick in arrow 29 in front of square space 1 (red) designating the trick taken. This will signify the tricks taken by the winning player and in this manner designate the winning side at the end of play. After the playing of, each four symbols Z,

as above described and the four symbols played aredropped in cup 23, the playing of in respective position 34, then now begins by the party to left of (red) designated as 27, next player etc., until first play has.

said O marker denoting the winner is placed next trick is resumed and the play proceeds s before. At the end of all 13 tricks denoted by said markers in arrows 29, a visualiz ed insigriia of the side or partners who have won, according to the rules of bridge,

will be presented. As' above stated, after each trick has been played the card symbols are discarded by being placed in cup 23,..and are shuflled for the next deal by a card being placed over the cup and the cup shaken, the

symbols Z being drawn therefrom by the respective players for new hands as in the first instance. I

Where it is desired that, the

hands not be exposed, the holder 18 can be'used in conjunction with board 1, play proceeding as follows: After shuffling, each player will draw one symbol Z at a time from the cup 23 the same as dealing, andplace the same on holder 18 in its respective position, there being normally fourvof such holders. Then bid and proceed as in regular bridge, by transferring the symbols as played from the holder 18, placing same in play column 1 (red) denoted as 27, and proceed as initially described in connection with board In.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. In combination a game board and a plurality of game pieces, certain of which constitute markers denoting, trumps, no trump, dealer, and wmner, the face of said board being divided into four divisions representing players indicated as North, East, South, and West, respectively, each division divided into two sections by a trump declared column, all of said sections being divided into four longitudinal columns designating the respective game piece suits, and into thirteen vertical columns representing the game piece face designations and forming 52 squares adapted to receive the respective game pieces according to their suit and face designations, the other complemental section being similarly divided into 52 squares representing suit and trick numbers, each square adapted to receive and record a respective game piece according to its suit and number of trick in which played, and a space adjacent each of said latter Sections adapted to receive a game piece representing the Winner.

2. In combination a game board and a plurality of game pieces, certain of said I the playing face p eces constituting markers, of said board being divided into two areas, each area divided into four complemental sections, the dividing line between said Seetions'being common to both respective sections divided into four longi- I tudinal columns representing the card suits,

respectively, one area, divided into thirteen vertical columns commonto its respective sections and representing the face designations of said game pieces, the other area similarly divided into thirteen vertical columns designating the number of tricks, :1 winner column adjacent said latter area adapted to receive a winner game piece adjacent a respective section, whereby the game pieces representing hands held before play are adapted to be arranged in the respective sections according to suit and face designations and transferred to theother area and arranged in the respective sections according to the suit and the particular trick in which played.

ALBERT N. LATIMER.

respectively,

areas, each of the v

Images