US20220008814A1

US20220008814A1 - Playing cards holder

Info

Publication number: US20220008814A1
Application number: US16/922,920
Authority: US
Inventors: Elizabeth Friedman; Jared Friedman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-07-07
Filing date: 2020-07-07
Publication date: 2022-01-13

Abstract

A device for holding playing cards, is disclosed. The device includes a base, wherein the base is configured to hold one or more playing cards. The device includes an opening in the base. The device includes a retaining device configured to provide tension or pressure to the stack of cards. The retaining device is configured to contact a surface of a top card of the one or more cards, and apply a restricting force to the surface, resulting in the one or more cards being retained between the retaining device and the base.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device card holder. The present invention more particularly relates to a device configured for holding one or more playing cards in windy conditions.

BACKGROUND

Playing a game of card's comprising of multiple stacks of cards is a highly prevalent form of entertainment in today's society. Playing cards of various sorts have been in use for hundreds of years within various residential, business, or casino environments.
Often playing cards has taken place outside in an open environment that is exposed to the elements of the weather. These environments may take place at a cookout, a family reunion, an outdoor game night, by pool, on a beach, on a boat or while on vacation. Playing cards constructed usually of lightweight and flat construction are susceptible to being blown and swept away by wind, a fan, or even a strong draft. Due to this, it is often considered very difficult to play cards outdoors or within windy or drafty conditions, or if there is the existence of a fan. In current methods, a paperweight is often used in order to hold a stack of playing cards in place. In other embodiments, a person will use a wind shield in order to prevent the wind from blowing the cards from the playing surface or the gaming surface. In general, holding down a set of cards by hand or with either of the preceding options is cumbersome, can slow down the pace of the game, and make it difficult to draw a card, replace a card, or access the playing cards.
As such, there is a continuing need in the art for a device configured to hold one or more cards while in a windy environment. Additionally, there is a need for the device to also easily allow one or more players to access the cards within the device to draw, replace, or access one or more cards being held within the device.
As such, embodiments of the invention, provide significant advantages while overcoming the above-described and other disadvantages, as will now be described.

SUMMARY

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a versatile card hold device that is operable to hold a set of cards. The primary describable object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved way of holding a set of cards while also allowing one or more players to access the cards within the device to draw, replace, or access one or more cards being held within the device.
In some aspects, a device for holding playing cards, is disclosed. The device includes a base, wherein the base is configured to hold one or more playing cards. The device includes a retaining device configured to provide tension to the stack of cards. The retaining device is configured to contact a surface of a top card of the one or more cards, and apply a restricting force to the surface, resulting in the one or more cards being retained between the retaining device and the base.
In one embodiment, the base is configured to be a square or a rectangle.
In one embodiment, the base comprises at least one indention on one side, and at least one protrusion on a second side.
In one embodiment, the at least one indention is configured to removably connect to at least one protrusion on a second device.
In one embodiment, the retaining device is connected to the base by a fixed securing means on one end, and contacting the surface of the one or more cards on a second end.
In one embodiment, the retaining device is configured to exert the restricting force by tension.
In one embodiment, the retaining device is configured to be connected to the base.
In one embodiment, the retaining device comprises of an upper portion and a lower portion configured to define an open card receiving opening at one end.
In one embodiment, the upper and lower portions are resiliently urged together at said card receiving opening so as to releasably secure a card between said portions.
In one embodiment, the opening is configured to receive one or more additional retaining devices resulting in a plurality of devices for holding playing cards being stacked on top of each other.
This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described features are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Disclosed herein are embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and systems pertaining to delivering of packages and products from a shipper to a recipient. This description includes drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a playing card holder, in accordance with an example;

FIG. 2 depicts a plurality of playing card holders stacked on top of each other, in accordance with an example; and

FIG. 3 depicts a plurality of playing card holders connected to each other, in accordance with an example.

Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some detailed example embodiments are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. Example embodiments may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of exemplary embodiments. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
The present invention provides for a device for holding playing cards, is disclosed. The device includes a base, wherein the base is configured to hold one or more playing cards. The device includes a retaining device configured to use tension on the stack of cards. The retaining device is configured to contact a surface of a top card of the one or more cards, and apply a restricting force to the surface, resulting in the one or more cards being retained between the retaining device and the base.
FIG. 1 depicts a playing card holder. The playing card holder comprises of a base surface 1, configured to provide support to one or more playing cards. In many instances, the base surface can provide support to one or more decks of cards. The base surface comprises of a thickness of at least 2 millimeters (mm) and can be constructed of material selected from one or more of plastic, metal, plexiglass, leather, or cardboard. In the preferred embodiment, the base surface is configured to comprise of a rectangle or a square shape. However, the base surface can be configured to be any polygon shape comprise of enough surface area to hold a plurality of playing cards. The playing surface can further comprise of a retaining device 4 that is configured to provide tension, weight, pressure or frictional force to retain a single playing card or a set of playing cards.
The retaining devices may be releasably attached to the upper surface of the base surface in any desired position relative to the edges and ends of the base surface. Additionally, the retaining device can be configured to be positioned in any desired angular orientation relative to the one or more edges and ends of the base surface. The retaining device is adapted to releasably hold one or more playing cards which otherwise would be placed on the board and be subject to windy conditions causing the cards to be blown away. The retaining device is configured to be one or more of a clip, or another securing means that is configured to provide pressure to surface of one or more playing cards. In the preferred embodiment, the retaining device is configured to have a flat surface, with width wide enough to prevent the cards from flying away in a windy environment. Additionally, the retaining device is connected to the base by a fixed securing means on one end 5, and contacting the surface of the one or more cards on a second end 6. Accordingly, the retaining device is configured to exert the restricting force by one or more of a tensile force, an elastic force, a gravitational force or spring-loaded force. The retaining device can be configured to be fixed or removably attached to the base surface, in way that the device can be useable without the clip, or the clip can be resituated to apply pressure at a different angel or depth on the one or more cards. Additionally, the retaining device comprises of an upper portion and a lower portion configured to define an open card receiving opening at one end 8. The upper and lower portions are resiliently urged together at said card receiving opening so as to releasably secure a card between said portions. The upper and lower portions of one of said clips are spaced from each other so as to accommodate a deck of stacked playing cards. The retaining device can be lifted from the stacked playing cards by raising the end of the retaining device 7.
Further, the playing card holders are configured with at least one recess on a first side 3, at least one protrusion on a second side 2 and an opening in the base surface 9.
FIG. 2 depicts a plurality of playing card holders stacked on top of each other. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of playing card holders can be stacked one upon another by sliding the retaining clip through an opening in the base surface 10. The opening in the base surface can receive the retaining device, providing enough room for the retaining device of the playing card holder underneath. In essence, the opening is configured to allow for multiple playing card holders to be stacked one upon another, in order to allow for the ease of transport in a truncated or small package.
FIG. 3 depicts a plurality of playing card holders connected to each other. Accordingly, each of the plurality of playing card holders are connected to each other via at least one protrusion of one playing card holder, configured to be securely attached within the recess of a second playing card holder 11. Accordingly, there can be an infinite amount of playing card holders lined up next to each other in order to facilitate multiple games or multiple decks of playing cards at one time.
Example embodiments having thus been described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the intended spirit and scope of example embodiments, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of various embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to these embodiments. Modification within the spirit of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A device for holding playing cards, comprising:

a base, wherein the base is configured to hold one or more playing cards;

an opening in the base;

a retaining device configured to provide tension or pressure to the stack of cards;

wherein the retaining device is configured to contact a surface of a top card of the one or more cards, and apply a restricting force to the surface, resulting in the one or more cards being retained between the retaining device and the base.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to be a square or a rectangle.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one indention on one side, and at least one protrusion on a second side.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one indention is configured to removably connect to at least one protrusion on a second device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the retaining device is connected to the base by a fixed securing means on one end, and contacting the surface of the one or more cards on a second end.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the retaining device is configured to exert the restricting force by one or more of tensile force, gravitational force or spring-loaded force.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the retaining device is configured to be fixed to the base.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the retaining device comprises of an upper portion and a lower portion configured to define an open card receiving opening at one end.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the upper and lower portions are resiliently urged together at said card receiving opening so as to releasably secure a card between said portions.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the upper and lower portions of one of said holders are spaced from each other so as to accommodate a deck of stacked playing cards.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the opening is configured to receive one or more additional retaining devices resulting in a plurality of devices for holding playing cards being stacked on top of each other.