US3113779A

US3113779A - Tally card with shiftable leaf for selective indicia viewing

Info

Publication number: US3113779A
Application number: US95097A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul E Guenther
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-03-13
Filing date: 1961-03-13
Publication date: 1963-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-10

Description

Dec. 10, 1963 P. E. GUENTHER 3,113,779

TALLY CARD WITH SHIFTABLE LEAF F OR SELECTIVE INDICIA VIEWING Filed March 15, 1961 Pl E- L Fl E- E WM; 42

.52 O. OF TABLES M l0 ROUND mm mm scone ,0

MIX

THREE coup 5 TWO JNVENTOR. Pau/ Guemf/zer ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Ofilice 3,113,779. Patented Dec. 10, 1963 3,113,779 TALLY CARD WITH SHIFTABLE LEAF FOR SELECTIVE INDICIA VIEWING Paul E. Guenther, 1336 Monroe Ave., Wyomissing, Pa. Filed Mar. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 95,097 4 Claims. (Cl. 273--148) The present invention relates to improvements in tally cards employed in the game of bridge. Popular bridge parties are for eight or twelve players, a sufficient number of rounds being played that each player becomes a partner of each of the others employing two or three tables as the case may be. Alternatively a mixed couple arrangement may be followed wherein for example each of the ladies may lay each of the gentlemen. In any event for any of such or other arrangements, hereinafter referred to as play arrangements" a set of bridge tallies are employed with the tally for each player bearing his number and a column listing the table and partner numbers for the several rounds as well as places for noting the players score in each round, his total score, his name, etc.

Prior to the instant invention when a bridge party was arranged it has been necessary to acquire a set of bridge tallies designed for the particular play arrangement to be followed. Furthermore as the conventional tallies. are not re-usable a fresh set had to be acquired in each instance even though the play arrangement was to be the same as at a previous party. The principal object of the instant invention is the provision of a bridge tally and a set of such tallies designed and constructed for adjustment to denote the table and partner sequence for any of a plurality of play arrangements. A further object of the invention is the provision of such tally having a scoring section adapted to receive pencil notations and subject to ready erasure thereof whereby the tally may be reused and the necessity of securing new tallies for each bridge party eliminated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tally and a set of such tallies in which the tally is in the form of a sheath enclosing -a slidable insert, the insert carrying on its forward face columns of indicia listing the table and partner numbers of the different rounds to be played in each of a plurality of different play arrangements. The sheath inclu cs 21 front panel having a window therein, the construction being such that the insert may be shifted within the sheath to bring any of such columns into alignment with said Window. The portion of the front panel opposite the window includes places for the scoring of the individual rounds and other suitable indicia as well as a place for the name of the player, etc., such portion, at least, being of a character to permit pencil notations thereon and the ready erasure thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a tally of the character described above of means to permit the easy manual adjustment of the insert to bring any of the columns into alignment with the window.

My invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent when reference is made to the more detailed description of the invention which is to follow and to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of a bridge tally incorporating the instant invention with the cover flap opened;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the tally shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a modification of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan View of an insert employed in the structure of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a set of the tallies of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings. and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a tally 14] comprising a sheath 11 defining a flat tubular pocket in which is received an insert 12 for longitudinal sliding movement therein. The sheath in its preferred embodiment is made of a single sheet of material of a character hereafter to be described folded to define front and

rear panels

13 and 14, respectively, joined at a portion of their lower edges by a fold line 15. At their upper edges the front and rear panels are joined by a flap i6 integral with front panel 13 and folded over on a fold line 17 and suitably adhesively secured to the front of the rear panel. A cover flap 18, though not essential, may be included, the cover flap being formed as an extension of rear panel 14 and adapted to be folded over around the upper edge of the sheath to overlie the forward face thereof in the closed condition of the cover.

The lower corners of the sheath, including both the front and rear panels, are cut away as shown at 2-1 and 21 to leave a central section incorporating the fold line 15, the central section terminating in

shoulders

22 and 23 preferably equidistant from the ends. of the sheath adjacent thereto. Front panel 13 is of a character to conceal insert 12 except at window spaces 24 and 25' through which the insert and indicia thereon, hereinafter to be described, is visible. The front panel is demarked, in a manner to be visible on its forward face, with lines and legends as illustrated in FIG. 1 at 39, 31, 32, 33 and 34, certain of such designations lying

opposite window openings

24 and 25, respectively. In addition each tally carries a tally number as indicated at 35.

Insert 12 is suitably [formed of relatively stiif paper or cardboard and is of a width or vertical dimension such as to fit snugly within the sheath between the

fold lines

15 and 17 whereby it may be longitudinally shifted to different positions within the sheath but will tend to retain any such position against accidental displacement. The length of insert 12 is approximately equal to or not greater than the distance between shoulder 22 and the end 26 of the sheath. In the preferred embodiment the

shoulders

22 and 23 are equidistant from their adjacent ends of the sheath and in such case the length of the insert is approximately equal to the distance of either shoulder from the end of the sheath remote therefrom. The insert carries a number of columns 36, 37 and 38 printed thereon, three of such columns being shown, each column denoting the table and opponents of the player holding the tally for the particular play arrangement defined by that column. Each column is headed by a designation of the particular play arrangement. When the insert is within the sheath as illustrated in FIG. 1 the several lines of indicia of each column are in horizontal alignment with the lines and legends 3i) and 33 and the play arrangement designation is in horizontal alignment with legend 31. The correlation between the positions of the columns 36 to 38 on insert 12, the location of

shoulders

22 and 23 of the sheath, and the location of window spaces 24 and 2.5 is such that when the insert is within the sheath the alignment of a lower corner 4!} of the insert with the left hand end 27 of the sheath will bring column 38 beneath the

window spaces

24 and 25. When the insert is shifted to the right to have its corner 40 lie approximately equidistant from end 27 and shoulder 22 column 37 is beneath the window spaces. When the insert is shifted to bring the lower corner 46 into alignment with the shoulder 22 column 36 is beneath the window spaces. In the preferred embodiment previously referred to and illustrated in FIG. 1 where the shoulders are equidistant from their adjacent ends of the sheath, and the insert is of a length equal to the distance be- 3 tween either

shoulder

22 or 23 and the end of the sheath remote therefrom the positioning of the insert to bring the outer columns 36 and 38 beneath the window spaces may also be obtained by positioning the right hand corner 41 of the insert'in alignment with the right hand end of the sheath and in alignment with the shoulder 23 respecrtively. In' this embodiment intermediate column 37 is in alignment with the window space when corners 40 and 41 are equidistant from their

adjacent shoulders

22 and 23.

Sheath 11 may be constructed of any suitable sheet material relatively resistant to deterioration in use, and exposed surfaces of which, at least in that portion defining the area of the front panel to the right of

window spaces

24 and 25, is of a character to readily receive pencil notations and to permit their erasure. The material preferably employed is a transparent plastic sheeting such as a cellulose acetate film of a thickness approximately 0.0075 inch. The exposed surface of the film, or as stated above at least that portion of the front panel which is to receive pencil inscriptions, is provided with a matt finish obtained by any conventional method, for example by the application of a silicate coating. Another example of plastic film which may be used is polychloridevinyl film and in this case the matt finish may be obtained by employing a polishing plate with a relatively rough surface during the polishing of the film surface. Irrespective of the method of obtaining the finish, which methods as stated above are conventional and form no part of the instant invention, the matt finish enables the surface of the film to receive legible markings from an ordinary graphite pencil which markings can be easily erased by the use of an ordinary rubber eraser.

Where a transparent film is employed as a sheet material for the sheath the indicia carried by the face panel may be printed in reverse printing on the rear face of the panel whereby it will be protected against deterioration but at the same time will be visible from the front 'of 'the'panel. Also where a transparent film is used the concealment of the insert except at the window spaces, and of course at the exposed lower corners, is preferably obtained by printing the rear face of the front panel with an opaque ink of any suitable type such as is conventionally employed in printing on such materials (see FIG. 3), the ink layer 42 covering the entire rear face of the front panel except at the window spaces and overlying printed indicia 30 to 34. The coating 42 is suitably of a color to provide a clear contrast with the printed indicia and with pencil notations to be made on the tally. Alternatively to employing a coating 42 a paper or cardboard layer 43 (see FIG. 4) may be laminated to the rear face of the plastic front panel, layer 43 having cutouts defining

window spaces

24 and 25. Where layer 43 is employed its face adjacent the plastic film may carry the indicia 30 to 34.

In the play arrangement defined by columns 36 to 38 the maximum number of players is twelve and hence a set of tallies as illustrated in FIG. 6 will consist of twelve. Thetallies are numbered consecutively, the preferred location of the tally number being indicated at 35 in FIG. 1 as previously mentioned. It will be understood that the table and partner sequence in the columns 36 to 38 of each tally are different from those of the other tallies and to insure against mix-ups in the installation of the inserts the latter also preferably carry a tally number as indicated at 39 in FIG. 5. Suitably each set of tallies is enclosed in a box or container 44 of any suitable type for storage.

As will be understood, when a bridge party is to be held and the play arrangement to be followed has been decided upon the individual tallies of a set, or as many of the set as are necessary, will be adjusted to bring the desired column 36, 37 or 38 beneath the

window spaces

24 and 25. Each players name will be inscribed on his tally in the place provided and the score of the various rounds will be noted, together with the total score at the end of the game, all such notations being made by an ordinary pencil. Thereafter, when the tallies have served their purpose, such notations may be readily erased and the tallies thereby readied for re-use for another bridge party of the same or different play arrangements. It will be understood that while three different play arrangements involving a maximum of twelve players have been referred to this is for illustration only and that the tallies may be modified to accommodate play arrangements involving a greater or lesser number of players and different table and partner sequences.

Having thus described my invention in rather com plete detail it will be understood that these details need not be strictly adhered to and that various changes and modifications may be made all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. a

I claim:

1. A bridge tally comprising a flat tubular sheath in-, I

eluding front and rear panels, an insert enclosed within said sheath and longitudinally shiftable therein,-'.i s-aid insert being of a length less than the length of said sheath and carrying on the forward face thereof a plurality of columns of indicia, including outer columns and an inter mediate column, denoting the table and partner numbers. for different play arrangements, said front panel gener-f ally concealing said insert and including a window space" dimensioned to expose therethrough an indicia column? brought into alignment therewith, the lower corners of said sheath being cut away to expose the lower corners of said insert whereby said lower corners of said insert many be manually manipulated to shift said insert longitudinally within said sheath to bring any of said columns into alignment with said window space, the arrangement of said columns and the length of said insert being such that except for said corners the insert is wholly confined Within the sheath when shifted to position any of said columns beneath said window space, and the cut away corners defining shoulders positioned to have one thereof I,

in alignment with an adjacent end of said insert when an outer indicia column is in alignment with said window space.

2. A bridge tally as defined in claim 1 in which said I intermediate column is in alignment with said Window space when said shoulders are equidistant from the ends of the insert adjacent thereto.

3. A bridge tally as defined in claim 2 in which said front panel includes relatively permanent indiciavisible from the front thereof, and the forward face of said front panel has a surface adjacent said window space adapted for pencil notation and for ready erasure thereof, saidrelatively permanent indicia including lines on said sur-.

face in approximate alignment with said table and partner indicia of said columns.

4. A set of bridge tallies as defined in claim 3 in which the tallies carry consecutive player numbers and the in"- dicia columns on the insert of each tally denote the table and partner number for the player bearing such tally and l are correlated with the table and player number of the corresponding columns of the remaining tallies of the set. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 606,121 Castner June 21, 1898 1,474,572 Whitstock Nov. 20, 1923 1,555,190 Currin Sept. 29, 1925 1,558,838 Clark Oct. 27, 1925 2,673,413 Weber Mar. 30, 1954 3,013,349 Cooper Dec. 19, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 606,380 Great Britain Aug. 12, 1948

Claims

1. A BRIDGE TALLY COMPRISING A FLAT TUBULAR SHEATH INCLUDING FRONT AND REAR PANELS, AN INSERT ENCLOSED WITHIN SAID SHEATH AND LONGITUDINALLY SHIFTABLE THEREIN, SAID INSERT BEING OF A LENGTH LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID SHEATH AND CARRYING ON THE FORWARD FACE THEREOF A PLURALITY OF COLUMNS OF INDICIA, INCLUDING OUTER COLUMNS AND AN INTERMEDIATE COLUMNS, DENOTING THE TABLE AND PARTNER NUMBERS FOR DIFFERENT PLAY ARRANGEMENTS, SAID FRONT PANEL GENERALLY CONCEALING SAID INSERT AND INCLUDING A WINDOW SPACE DIMENSIONED TO EXPOSED THERETHROUGH AN INDICIA COLUMN BROUGHT INTO ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, THE LOWER CORNERS OF SAID SHEATH BEING CUT AWAY TO EXPOSE THE LOWER CORNERS OF SAID INSERT WHEREBY SAID LOWER CORNERS OF SAID INSERT MANY BE MANUALLY MANIPULATED TO SHIFT SAID INSERT LONGITUDINALLY WITHIN SAID SHEATH TO BRING ANY OF SAID COLUMNS INTO ALIGNMENT WITH SAID WINDOW SPACE, THE ARRANGEMENT OF SAID COLUMNS AND THE LENGTH OF SAID INSERT BEING SUCH THAT EXCEPT FOR SAID CORNERS THE INSERT IS WHOLLY CONFINED WITHIN THE SHEATH WHEN SHIFTED TO POSITION ANY OF SAID COLUMNS BENEATH SAID WINDOW SPACE, AND THE CUT AWAY CORNERS DEFINING SHOULDERS POSITIONED TO HAVE ONE THEREOF IN ALIGNMENT WITH AN ADJACENT END OF SAID INSERT WHEN AN OUTER INDICIA COLUMN IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID WINDOW SPACE.