US1911160A - Deal and hand indicator - Google Patents

Description

M y 23, 1933- J. A. MINSHALL ET AL 60 DEAL AND HAND INDICATOR Filed Sept. 19, 1932 INVENTORS. John/7. films/7a [l BY Per/eyi wuaar w z ML EATTORNEYZKI i atented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN A. MINSHALL, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AND IPERLEY S. 'WILDER', OF

TOPEKA,

KANSAS DEAL AND HAND INDICATOR Application filed September 19, 1932. Serial No. 633,706.

This invention relates to a mechanism useful to card players and is for the purpose of revealing the dealer and in keeping track of the number of hands played. It is of especial interest to bridge players, also it may be used by a plurality of players in games such as pinochle.

in the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a top view of the mechanism. Fig. 2 shows a top view similar to that seen in Fig. 1 with the cover plate removed. Fig. 3 shows a sectional view taken along the line 111-111 in Fig. 2 to disclose a side view of the elements of the combination. Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout all the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing; 10 represents the top or cover element of the box like element having side walls 11 and base 12, this box may be of metal, wood, celluloid or other desirable material. Within the box is horizontally arranged a shaft 13 upon which is fixed drum like element 20 being keyed to the shaft 13 as seen at 1 1. The drum 20 at one end has notches arranged around its periphery at spaced intervals as seen at 15 for purposes later explained.

The shaft rotates in bearings 16 and 17 aflixed to the side walls 11 as disclosed. A disc 19 is floated upon the shaft 13 and bears against a stop plate 18 pined to the shaft 13 and is contacted by a coiled spring 21 enveloping the shaft 13 and extending between the end of the drum 20 and the inner face of the disc 19.

Opposite the drum 20 brackets 22 are affixed to a wall 11 and pivoted thereto at 2200 is shown a lever 23 outwardly extending beyond the wall as disclosed and provided with a pointed foot 24 adapted to engage an adjacent notch 15 on the drum 20 for the purpose of rotating said drum and shaft 13 through an arc of predetermined length. Near the foot 24 is shown a weight 25 on the lever 23 useful in causing the foot to lower away from the notch 15 and ready for a further raising operation and consequent arc movement of the drum. A second lever 26 is pivoted at 27 to the lever 23 and is adapted to drop into the upper notch 15 of the pair closest the lever 24 and thereby prevent backward movement of the drum 20. Stops 28 and 29 limit the move ment of the lever 26 or so that it tends to ride the face of the drum except when ongaged within a notch for the purpose explained. Also a stop 30 prevents the lever 23 from dropping below a desired position or as indicated in the dotted position in Fig. 3. On the outer end of the lever 23 is shown a tray for a pencil, this tray may be of any shape or it may be fashioned as a clip. The lever 23 therefore may raise and lower within the slot 11m to meet the wishes of the operator.

The device functions as follows: assume a plurality of card players engaged in a game. It is well known that confusion frequently occurs as to the number of hands previously played or the proper party to deal the cards. Very frequently these debates result in bad feeling, but this is entirely obviated by the use of our device. In bridge the players are named east, south, west and north and hence upon the. drum at spaced intervals will be seen such lettering arranged so that upon the arc movement of the drum 20' occasioned by the lowering of the clip 31 the name of the next dealer is automatically raised into a horizontal position such as indicated by North Fig. 1 and which is revealed through a slotted opening in the cover 10. The spring 21 causes the disc 19 to rotate with the shaft 13 and therefore the number of the deal appears in the window opening through the cover plate 10 as seen in Figs. 2 and 1. Should for any reason it be desired to change the number of the deal, the number indicated could be readily changed by simply placing the finger upon the top of the disc 19, that is for instance the numeral 5 seen in Fig. 1 could be readily shifted to read either 4 or 6 by simply shifting the position of the disc 19 on the shaft 13 against the spring pressure 21.

It has been found objectionable to have the pencil loose upon a card table therefore the clip or tray 31 permits the pencil to perform a useful function and be at the same time available to the scorer whenever necessary. Further we provide a card clip 32 arranged 7 disc.

from the side of the device, Where the score cards may be readily kept and out of the Way of the players.

The device serves the double purpose of novelty and utility and fills a long felt Want by eliminating certain features that render card games uninviting to many. I

Having fully described our invention and reserving the right to make structural changes Within' the spirit of the appended claim, What We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A device of the class described, including a case, a shaft Within the case, a drum aifixed to the shaft, bearings for the shaft, a disc sleeved on the shaft and a spring intermediate the drum and the disc; a lever pivoted to the .Wall of'the case, a pencil holder at the outer end of the lever, a foot on the lever within the case adapted to engage the drum for selective arc movements thereof and a second lever adjacent thereto pivoted to the first lever and for limiting backward movement of the drum; and designations on the drum and JOHN A. MINSHALL. PERLEY S. VILDER.

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