US2113049A - Bidding indicator for card tables - Google Patents

Description

April 5, 1938- K. B. HOLLAND 2,113,049

BIDDING INDICATOR FOR CRD TABLES Filed March 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 v 23 /Ila n 2 22M |{l||||||||l| hllllllllhll/ lluyllllll IIIII/I4III llllllllllllll 'INVENTOR HMB. Hallan/CL BY @,XQMM' ATTORNEY April 5, 1938. K, Q HOLLAND 2,113,049

BIDDING INDICATOR FOR CARD TABLES Filed March 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hm w/f Il mmlul lll "InmxlIl /J' LJ i JUUJ K B. Ho Z Z can/6L a @M .am

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE f Kent B. Holland, Sacramento,.0alif. Application March 29, 1935, Serial No. 13,673v

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a bidding indicator for card games and is directed particularly to a visible bidding indicating means incorporated with the playing surface of a card table.

In card games, such as auction or contract bridge, a player often interrupts andslows down the game by making inquiry as to the prior bid of one of the other players. This is not only an annoying occurrence but also causes the game to lose some of the zest which makes it so enjoyable.

To overcome this objectionable feature of the game and to avoid argument as to the bids made it is my principal object to provide for each player an illuminated bid indicator in combination with the surface of a card table, each indicator being operable by the individual player.

It is also my object to providey a device which will enable deaf and dumb persons to rapidly and eiectively convey their bids to the knowledge of the other players.

It is also my object to provide a combination bidding indicator and card table which is simple in construction and yet one which will be exd ceedingly eiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a card table top constructed according to my invention, with the cover partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan View illustrating two sets of bidding numerals perforated in the card table top and illustrating the control fingers for the shutters. A two bid in hearts is illustrated.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the same portion of the table top illustrated in Figure 4, the control fingers of the back row of shutters being partially broken off.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral I denotes generally a card table top, preferably formed of metal. Adjacent each side edge of the card table and parallel thereto is a group of rows of numerals and letters perforated through the top of the table. Each group of rows of indicating numerals and letters includes every possible bid which the individual player may make. Any particular bid will be indicated in either one of the front rrows 2 or back rows 3. The rows beginning `with C, D, H, S, and NT indicate the five possible types of bids,y while the rows comprising the letters P, D, RD, V, indicate pass, double, redouble, and vulnerable respectively. The rows of numerals and letters of course face away from thev player making the bid or away from the side edge vof the table adjacent which theyare disposed. Secured touqthe under side of the table topI beneath each groupof rows, is an electric light' box 4 which is open to the under side of the table top. Disposed in the box longitudinally thereof is a plurality of suitable electric socket and' globe units 5. The interior of this box 4 is enameled white in order to afford a reflected as well as direct light through the perforate portions of the table top.

The inner side B of the light box 4 is hinged as at 'I in order to provide accessibility to the electric globes. Av catch 8 normally holds the side 6 closed while louvers 9 formed therein provide an outlet from whichthe `heat of the globes may escape. v Slidably mounted beneath :each of the perforatenumerals and letters, except the suit indicating letters are shutters III and IIla. of the front and back rows respectively. As the moulding and operation of all the shutters in all the series of rowsis the same, a description of the mounting and operation of the shutters of one adjacent front and back row is deemed suflicient for the purposer of this speccation. A typical front and back 4row is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

Each of these shutters whether in the front or back row isheld'r in place by guide plates I2 which not only guide the shutters but also prevent any light from escaping about the shutters when closed. i Y VSecured to each ofthe shutters III and Illa. are control iingers I I and I Ia on which are printed identifying symbols facing the player, as shown. These iingers extend from the shutters out through the-depending side skirt I3 of the card table to a termination in nger nubs I4. These lingers I I and IIa. are offset downward beneath the table as at I 5in order that they may be more conveniently located exteriorly of the side of the table. The control fingers IIa being relatively long are supplied intermediate their length by a bar I6 which not only serves as a support for the fingers Ila but also as a stop for the opening movement of the shutters Ia .and a stop for the closing movement of the shutters l0. Another guide plate l1 mounted adjacent the side of the table slidably supports both the control fingers Il and Ila.

The corresponding numerals or letters of the respective front and back rows are offset lengthwise of the rows so that they are in staggered relation to each other. Thus, the fingers Ila pass between the shutters l0 and do. not interfere with the light which passes through a perforate numeral of the front row when its shutter is open.

Also by staggering the rows', `the control fingers are equally spaced which facilitates operation thereof. The fingers of one row are shorter than those of the other row, which also lends to the ease of operation thereof. y

The top of the card table l is slightly convex for the purpose hereinafter set out. Glued, or otherwise attached to the top of the table is a sheet of felt or the like I8. The numerals and letters are perforated through both` the metal and the felt. l

A translucent playing cover I9 covers the entire top of the table and extends over the edges down to a hem through which a draw string 20 passes. A groove 2l extends about the sides of the table and receives the draw string and hem in order to securely hold the cover in place. This cover I9 must be of translucent cloth in order that the light passing through the perforate portions of the table will penetrate the cloth and v illuminate the same to correspond with the perforation. The draw string in the hem of the playing cover is used in order that the cover may be taken off and washed etc. and then replaced smooth and taut over the table top. It isnecessary that the playing cover be taut over the top of the table in order to assure a perfect illuminated outline of the numerals and letters. The top of the table being slightly convex makes it amuch easier task to draw they cover taut.

Secured to each corner of the table is an ash tray or drinking glass receptacle 22. When the table is not in use and is folded up tobe stored on edge, these trays serve as legs upon which the table rests thereby preventing injury to the control ngers Il and Ha which project out from each side of the table.

Drawers 23 for cigarettes, matches and other accessories are formed in the sides of the table adjacent the corners and beyond the rows of perforations, as shown.

In use, the card table is set up and the cord (not shown) leading to the globes is connected to any convenient outlet. At once the outlines of the perforated letters indicating the five suits are illuminated on the playing cover due to the fact that these letters have no shutters.

Then, as the bidding begins, each player as his or her bid is made grasps the corresponding control finger and pulls the shutter open, thus ilto again bidding.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specication sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a card table having anl opaque top provided with perforated openings in symbol form adapted to be selectively illuminated from under the top, means to thus illuminate the openings and a translucent playing cover extending over the top and openings `therein whereby to permit of movement of cards over the table without interfering with the edges of the openings and also rendering the openings invisible when the latter are not illuminated.

2. A card table including a permanent rigid top provided with symbol forming openings adapted to be illuminated from below, a translucent fabric playing cover removably mounted on and extending over the entire area of the table top; such entire surface area of the table top being convex whereby to assist in the close engagement of the fabric cover with such surface and insure the Outline of the openings when illuminated being sharply visible through the playing cover.

3. In a card table, an opaque top having a front series of spaced bid indicating symbol openings cut therethrough extending along and adjacent one side edge thereof, and a back series of similar spaced symbol openings disposed inwardly of the front series, the symbols of the two series being staggered lengthwise of said side of the table, individual shutters for all the openings of both series, means for operating the shutters of the front series from adjacent said side of the table, and manually actuated operating elements for the shutters of the back series of symbols extending under the table top from outwardly of said side to connections with said shutters and disposed in line with the spaces between the symbols of the front series.

ICENT B. HOLLAND.

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