US2490649A - Wind protected card table top - Google Patents

Description

' Dec. 6, 1949 S. N. POLIS WIND PROTECTED CARD TABLE TOP Filed De.

l u-mH-1- -l+iiil an v a z! x INVENTOR. ,famueZ Mfalip Afro/MEY- Patented Dec. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIND PROTECTED CARD TABLE TOP Samuel N. Polis, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 31, 1947, Serial No. 794,983

3 Claims.

This invention is an improvement in game devices; particularly boards intended for use in the playing of games and the like amusements that require the handling of cards and other objects of light weight.

An important object of the invention is to prevent such cards and the like from being blown off the board by the wind when the board is set up in the open. To this end it is constructed so as to be capable of presenting a flat top, for indoor use, or outdoor use in places where there is no breeze; and is equipped with movable parts that can be swung into position to screen the top adjacent the edges. The cards or other light objects are thus shielded and protected from currents of air when laid down on the board and cannot be whisked out of reach of the players, even when a fresh, strong breeze is stirring.

Other objects and advantages are set forth in the ensuing specification and the distinguishing features are pointed out in the claims. But this disclosure is by way of example only; and variations in details of structure may be adopted without deviation from the main design in which the invention is incorporated.

On the drawings,

Figure l is a top plan of a device according to this invention with the members for protecting the cards, etc., in folded or inoperative position.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing said members in position to serve the intended purpose.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 44 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a full cross section on line '55 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6' shows one of the members for shielding the cards, detached.

The device comprises a top supported on legs 2, and around the outer edges of the top are reinforcing strips 3. Adjacent said strips 3 the top has recesses or openings in the form of slots 4, which can be closed or uncovered by strips or panels 5. Thepanels are connected to the top by hinges 6 along the sides which are nearer to the middle of the top i. When disposed in the slots 4, the panels 5 are flush with the top, and the latter presents an unbroken upper surface.

The ends of both the slots 4 and panels 5 are inclined to the length thereof in opposite directions. The shorter of the longitudinal edges of the slots and panels is nearer to the strips 3, along the edges of the top; and the slots and panels meet at their inner corners to delineate a closed figure; which can be square or hexagonal or otherwise shaped. When the panels 5 are turned up about their longer or inner edges till their inclined or bevel ends come into contact, they make a continuous closed rim or barrier which screens the surface of the top surrounded by said rim against drafts of air that could sweep the top clear of cards and the like laid thereon.

The inclined ends 7 of the panels 5 are fitted to engage neatly when the rim or barrier is set up, and hooks or fasteners to hold the panels together may be attached to them if desired, on their under faces.

Below the slots 4 are trough-shaped receptacles 8, the tops of which are about flush with the lower surface of the top I. These receptacles are for storing cards, pencils and the like; and the edges of the panels rest thereon when turned down into the slots 4. The top I thus has a continuous unbroken smooth surface when the panels 5 are down, and when raised, they expose the receptacles 8 and present the appearance shown in Figures 2 and 5, making a closed rim or barrier, for screening and shielding the part of the top I surrounded by it.

To prevent eddy currents, the panels 5 have recesses in their hinged edges. These recesses 9 may have various forms or outlines, but are shown as semi-circular. They are matched by similarly shaped projections m in the adjacent edges of the slots 4. When the panels 5 are down the projections ll] fill the recesses 9; and when the panels '5 are in the positions shown in Figures 2 and 5, the recesses 9 are unobstructed, allowing enough air to pass through the rim to prevent r eddy currents from wind across the top edges of the rim; and thus no disturbance or displacement of any light objects within the barrier can occur.

In addition to recesses 9 in the lower edges of the panels 5, the ends of the panels where they engage one another may have notches similar to those shown at 9; and openings might be formed through the panels between the top and bottom edges. Such recesses, openings and notches or any of them may be omitted if desired.

Likewise the legs 2 may be dispensed with if one desires merely to use the device on a beach or lawn by laying it on the ground or putting it upon an ordinary table. With the legs omitted, the device could, of course, rest on the bottoms of the receptacles 8, or directly on the underside of the top I itself, if receptacles 8 and reenforcing strips 3 are omitted.

When the panels are in position as in Figures 2, 4 and 5. any breeze or draft of air blowing over the table is deflected upward and does not disturb the space enclosed by the panels, or throw oif the cards or the like which may be on the top member I, as the game is played. Enough air would pass through the recesses, notches and openings through the panels to prevent eddy currents Within the area enclosed by the rim, when such recesses, notches and openings are provided.

ihe degrees of inclination of the panels 5 can be varied and they caneven be so arranged that they can be set up in vertical position if preferred.

These panels should be flat on the faces which are exposed when the panels are down in the recesses 4. The opposite faces which are presented to the players when the panels are set up need not be flat if receptacles 8 are provided, but may even have figures, designs or projections thereon.

The panels are shown hinged to the top I, and the method of attaching may be cloth or fabric; or the panels may be removable and positioned by adjusting into slots provided underneath in the recesses Or receptacles.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

1. An article of the kind described having a top with elongated openings therein along the edges of the top, the adjacent ends of said openings being in proximity, receptacles below said openings and substantially coextensive therewith, panels connected to the inner edges of said openings, the panels therein extending completely around said top with their adjacent ends in close proximity, the panels being shaped to fill said openings and be supported upon the sides of said receptacles to be flush with the upper surface of the top, said panels being movable about their connections to said top into position to engage one another at the ends and make a, closed rim on saidtop, the ends of said openings and said panels being bevelled so that said rim 'is inclined towards the center of the top.

2. The article according to claim 1 with the panels havin notches in their edges which are exposed at the lower edges of the panels when the panels are fully lifted to make said rim, and matching projections on the adjacent edges of said openings filling said notches when the panels are in said openings and flush with the top.

3. An article of the kind described having a top with elongated openings therein along the edges of the top, the adjacent ends of said openings being in proximity, panels connected to the inner edges of said openings, the panels therein extending completely around said top with their adjacent ends in close proximity, the panels be- 1 ing shaped to fill said openings and be supported therein flush with the upper surface of the top,

said panels being movable about their connections to said top into position to engage one another at the ends and make a closed rim on said top, the ends of said openings and said panels being bevelled so that said rim is inclined towards the center of the top.

- SAMUEL N. POLIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 848,042 Musgrave Mar. 26, 1907 1,219,715 Eiseman Mar. 20, 1917 1,906,213 Neuschotz Apr. 25, 1933 1,951,608 Gunn Mar. 20, 1934 2,371,262 Polis Mar. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 376,333 Germany May 26, 1923

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