US2872215A

US2872215A - Holder for game sheets

Info

Publication number: US2872215A
Application number: US671750A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry A Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-07-15
Filing date: 1957-07-15
Publication date: 1959-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 1976-02-03

Description

H. A. TAYLOR HOLDER FOR GAME SHEETS Feb. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1957 INVENTOR. Harry A 7Z2y/0r 5 Arm/way eh. 3, W59 H. A. TAYLOR 2,72,215

HOLDER FOR GAME SHEETS Filed July 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Harry 4755/47! Y United States Patent HGLDER FOR GAME SHEETS Harry A. Taylor, New York, N. Y.

Application July 15, 1957, Serial No. 671,750

1 Claim. (Cl. 281-44) This invention relates to a holder for game cards or sheets. More particularly, the invention has reference to a holder for a multiplicity of sheets used in playing the game of bingo. This game is also known under other names, and in addition, variations of the game may be practiced. Essentially, however, in every instance the game includes a sheet which has a plurality of intersecting rows of numbers, which numbers are called out and marked on the sheet. In some instances, objects, such as kernels of corn or the like, are placed on the called numbers, and in other instances, one may use a brush or similar means for applying a blot of ink to the called num ber.

It is conventional for players to simultaneously play a number of sheets, and in accordance with the invention, there is provided a holder which will carry up to six sheets, in positions where all six of the sheets may be conveniently observed, so that one can swiftly ascertain whether a particular number, called during the playing of the game, is on any one or more of the several sheets.

A further object is to permit the holder to be folded into a size little greater in area than the size of any one game sheet, so that it can be conveniently kept in the pocket or purse when not in use.

Another object is to permit the holder to hold a large number of game sheets, and be folded as described, while still being capable of manufacture at comparatively low cost.

Still another object is to provide a holder that will accommodate wholly conventional game sheets, without requiring modification or redesign of said sheets in any way.

Yet another object of importance is to provide pocket means spaced apart upon the holder, in such a manner as to define, between adjacent means, fold lines along which the holder may be folded between its collapsed and extended positions.

Another object is to arrange said fold lines in a particular manner to insure swift and easy folding of the holder,

. or unfolding of the same.

A further object of importance is to provide a holder of the character described that will be designed for insuring, to the maximum extent, against slippage of an inserted sheet, so that the sheet will not move about while a particular number is being marked, the holder further being adapted to facilitate insertion or removal of the sheet without interference from the slip-preventing element.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game cardholder in fully opened position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the holder partially folded.

7 is impregnated with. a suitablejstiffener,Thep clrets 'ice Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the holder fully folded.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged edge elevational view of a folded holder, portions being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing one corner portion of the holder with one of the game sheets or cards being disengaged from the holder.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of the open holder, showing one corner portion thereof.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on a scale enlarged above that of Fig. 6, taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, on the same scale as Fig. 7, taken substantially on line 8--8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view, the scale being enlarged still further, of a modification.

Fig. 10 is a view substantially on line 1010 of Fig. 9 in which the pocket member has been raised to permit movement of the game card or sheet therefrom.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in Fig. 1 there is shown in fully open position a holder for six bingo sheets or cards. Said sheets are ordinarily printed on thin paper, and it is common practice for one to play with a number of the sheets. In accordance with the invention, the holder accommodates six sheets, with said sheets all being firmly gripped so that they will not slip when one is marking one of the numbers on the sheets.

The holder according to the. present invention is folded into a compact, small article the size of one of the sheets, or a little bigger.

The holder may appropriately be considered as including six panels arrangedin two parallel rows, three panels to a row. The panels of one row have been designated A, B and C, while the panels of the other row have been designated at D, E and F. By reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that in accordance with the invention, extending between the row of panels A, B and C and the other row is a clear space 10, constituting a hinge line. Perpendicularly intersecting the longitudinal hinge line 10 are

transverse hinge lines

12, 14 extending transversely of the respective rows of panels.

As a result, in folding the device, the row of panels D, E and F, which, purely for the purpose of facilitating understanding, will be designated the upper row, is folded upwardly and toward the user along the line 10, so as to swing through to the Fig. 2 position, in which position the panels of the upper row overlie the respective panels of the lower row. 1

Then, the superposed panels C, F are swung about the hinge line 14 intooverlying relation to the panels B, E. Finally, the superposed panels A, D are swung in an opposite direction along-the hinge line 12, into overlying relation to the panels C, F. This produces a completely folded holder as shown in Fig. 3, the overall area of which is little greater than that of a single panel. w The holder can thus be conveniently carried in the pocket or purse.

Considering now the particular constructionof the holder, this includes a baseor backing sheet 15. This isformed of a fabric material, whichm'aybe impregnated with a stiflenenif desired. Across the inner end of each panel as viewed in Fig. 1, there is a rectangular strip or.-

sheet 16. Across the outer end of each panel is' a similar strip or sheet18. These strips constitute pocket mempockets defined by the inner and

outer strips

16 and 18.

Each pocket member is also formed ofa fabric material in a preferred embodiment, which fabric material, again,

open toward each other, and extend the full transverse dimension of a panel.

Engaged in the respective pockets are the opposite ends of a rectangular stifiener member 2%, which may be formed of a comparatively stitf, strong cardboard; In this connection, the pocket members are first cemented at their undersides to "the fabric 10, .over the "full areas thereof. Then, the stiffener or reinforcing plate members 2.0 are cemented .or glued at their opposite ends to the inner surfaces of :the bottom walls of the respective pockets, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The intermediate portions .of the members 20 may also be adhesively secured to .the fabric backing sheet 15, in the area between the pockets of :the panel.

It will be seen that all the innerpoc'ket members -16 of a single row are in longitudinal alignment, being spaced apart at their adjacent ends by the intervening fold lines 12-or'14. The same is true of all the outer pockets 18 of a particular row. -The inner pockets are arranged at opposite sides of the longitudinal or main fold line 10, while the outer pockets are arranged along the opposite longitudinal edges of the holder.

The bingo sheets have been designated at 22. These are in andof =thern-selves conventional, and are quite commonly printed .ona very thin, inexpensive paper material, so that they can be disposed of after a single use. This is-by reason of the fact that it is'common practice to use ink for-marking the various numbers. In accordance with the-invention, and as shown to particular advantage in Fig. 5, the bingo cards are slipped at their ends into =the pockets of a particular panel, and when a card or sheet is to be removed, it may be engaged with the thumb as shown in Fig. 5, and pushed at one end out of apartlcular pocket. This frees the card to be grasped, so that it can be removed from the other pocket.

In this connection, sometimes the cards tend to move about within the pockets, since the sheets are narrower than the pockets are long. Accordingly, in one form of the invention (see Figs. 9 and there are provided circular, thin, soft rubber friction-producing pieces 24, adhesively secured to the inner surfaces of the top walls of the pockets, said top Walls being those which are-at the top whenthe holder is opened fiat as in Fig. l. The pieces 24 are located medially between the opposite ends of the particular pocket, wholly within the pocket as shown in Fig. '10, medially between the longitudinal edges of the pocket wall.

The friction-producing pieces 24 are so designed that they will engage the top surface of a bingo sheet 22, when said sheet is inserted in the pocket. To permit the sheet to be inserted, one engages the fingernail under the outer edge of the upper wall of the pocket as shown in Fig. 10. The sheet may now beinserted in the pocket, and when the finger is removed from the pocket, the inherent resiliency of the pocket material causes the same to shift element 24 into face-to-face contact with the sheet 22. This binds the sheet within the pocket, since the sheet is in effect clamped betweenthe inner wall of the pocket and a member or element 24 of a material hav'inga decided characteristic of. producing friction. There is no tendency for the sheet 22 to skid about within the pocket while numbers are being marked thereon.

fSubsequently, when the sheet is to be removed, one

lifts the top wall of the pocket in thernanner shown in Figf'l'O, to move the piece .24 outof engagement with the'sheet 22, so that the sheet may now be removed easily.

It willjbe seen that the holder constituting the present invention is decidedly compact, and yet. is adapted to hold ailarge number of bingo sheets at a very low manufacturin'gcost. The holder is readily stored in the pocket or ,purse, and can be swiftly unfolded or folded. Further,"th'e holder-is adapted vtoigrip conventional Tbingo sheets, an'dthere'fore can be adaptedfor use without re- 4 I .quiring modification or redesign .of. said sheets. Still further, the holder is designed to grip said sheets securely, and is adapted to prevent movement of the sheets from their assigned positions.

This, it will be noted, is achieved while still keeping the holder at a very low cost, the cost being, in fact, little greater than the cost .of holders already in use that have decidedly lower capacities than that illustrated and described herein.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A holder for a plurality of game sheets, comprising a flexible backing sheet, and means mounted in spaced relation on said sheet respectively adapted for removably holding a plurality'of game sheets, in superposed relation, said backing sheet being foldable along lines extending within the spaces intervening between said means, for folding of said means into superposed relation, the backing sheet folding along a longitudinal fold line extending longitudinally and centrally of the backing sheet, and

i '7 along a plurality of transverse fold lines intersecting the longitudinal line at uniformly spaced intervals along the length thereof, said means being arranged in straight rows disposed one at one side and one at the opposite side of said longitudinal fold line in parallel relation to the longitudinal fold line, said means comprising pairs of confronting pockets adapted to hold the opposite ends of each sheet, one pocket of the respective means c0nstituting an inner pocket and extending along the longitudinal fold line in closely spaced relation thereto, the other pocket of each means being extended as an outer pocket along a longitudinal edge of the backing piece, said pockets being of a flexible material and including top walls flexible outwardly from the backing piece to increase the areas of the pockets temporarily for insertion or removal of said sheets, said means further including reinforcing elements of platelike form adapted to underlie each sheet to provide a stilfener extending over substantially the full area of each of said means, said reinforcing elements extending at opposite ends thereof into the respective pockets of each pair, each of said means further including friction-producing means within at least one pocket of each pair adapted to frictionally engage the inserted sheet to hold said sheet against slippage within the pocket, said friction-producing means being in the form of a small, fiat, thin element of a resilient, soft material secured to said top wall of each pocket so as to be shiftable with the top wall toward and away from the inserted sheet, said friction-producing element when shifted toward the sheet being adapted for clampably engaging the sheet between the reinforcing element and the friction-producing element.

References'Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS