US3851882A - Bingo card with pivoted masking tabs - Google Patents

Abstract

A number bearing card having masking tabs pivoted alongside the numbers, the tabs being fastened by snap fasteners which hold the tab in frictional contact with card, whereby the tab is easily moved between number-covering and uncovered positions and held in selected position.

Description

United States Patent [191 Steinle et al.

[451 Dec. 3, 1974 BINGO CARD WITH PIVOTED MASKING TABS [76] Inventors: Paul P. Steinle; Paul R. Steinle, both of 6314 W. Estes Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60646 [22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 406,300

116/130, 131, 134, 120; 24/217, 216, 208 A, 108, 73 P, 73 SM; 46/29, 31

Moore et a1. 273/135 BC Herring 273/135 BC FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10,795 1914 Great Britain 46/31 Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn J. Kowalik 5 7 ABSTRACT A number bearing card having masking tabs pivoted alongside the numbers, the tabs being fastened by snap fasteners which hold the tab in frictional contact with card, whereby the tab is easily moved between number-covering and uncovered positions and held in [56] References Cited selected position.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 1,860,627 5 1932 Sherman 46/29 3 Drawmg Flgures BINGO CARD WITH PIVOTED MASKING TABS SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART Various forms of pivoted tabs are known and have been disclosed in US. patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,634,131; 2,230,178; 3,383,112; 2,192,825 and others. The principal problem resides in the pivot which if initially tight soon loosens so that the tab swings freely. The pivot hole in the tab and/or the card enlarges and either the tab falls off or the card is torn. If the pivot is upset tight the tab may tear off. Manufacturing usually requires expensive machinery and the entire assembly must be completed in the factory. For usual inexpensive construction it is necessary to provide a nonadjustable pivot which comprises a fixed rivet. It must be slightly overtight to compensate for wear and thus causes excessive rubbing between the parts and thereby accelerates the wear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a novel game and construction, and more specifically to a snap type pivot securement of a marker tab to the game board.

A more specific object is to provide a novel snap-type fastener pivot connection for the marker tab, the connection having interlocking male and female members which are resiliently sprung against the intervening parts biasing them into frictional contact with each other.

A different object is to provide a novel self-adjusting snap fastener arrangement for effecting a connection between the marker and card, the fastener being easily DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is shown applied to a typical Bingo card generally designated 2 comprising a base 3 which is of rectangular form and has a series of vertically and horizontally arranged numbers with intervening spaces.

In the spaces, alongside each number, there is positioned a masking tab 6 which is generally oval-shape having a wide masking portion 8 at one end and a narrow anchor portion 10 at the other end. 7

The wide end portion is provided with an upstanding arcuate finger abutment or catch 12 for engagement by the players finger in pivoting the tab about a pivot opening 14 by which the tab is anchored at its narrow end portion 10 to the card base 3. The tab is movable from an uncovering position to a coveringposition of the adjacent number when the announcer calls a picked number corresponding to one on the card as well-known.

The tab may be of colored or clear or irridescent or fluorescent plastic material or opaque and may be of plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene or the like, and, preferably in the region of the pivot opening 14 on its top side 16. The tab is roughened at 18 while the bottom side 20 of the tab about the opening is smooth and engages and slides upon a smooth upper surface 22 of the card base 3, The top surface at 18 provides a relatively high coefficent of friction which is engaged by an overlying disk-like snap element 24 of a combination, preferably metalic, fastener and pivot assembly generally designated 25.

The assembly 25 comprises the female snap element 24 which is centrally dished and has a peripheral bead 26 and a segmented hub-like central portion 28, the segments 30,30 of which are spring-like and transversely resilient and define a central aperture 32. A bulbous end portion 34 on the distal end of a shank portion 36 of a male element 38 of the fastener assembly is adapted to pass through the aperture 32 for securing the fastener or removing the fastener. The shank portion 36 passes through the pivot aperture 32 and through an opening 40 in the card base 3, which also may be of plastic material such as the tab. The shank portion is centrally affixed to a head 42 which is an annular dished structure having its upper face 44 in engagement with a roughened surface area 46 on the underface 48 of the card. It will be appreciated that in lieu of roughening the areas 18 and 46, materials providing a high coefficient of friction may be adhered to one or both of theopposing surfaces.

Thus the tab swings about the shank freely and is restrained by the fastener from freely swinging. Also the fastener, in having the segmented center section 28 with resilient spring sections causes the parts to be held together under adjustable pressure and provides a takeup for any wear occuring between the tab and the top of the card in the region of the pivot aperture 14. In addition, since it is relatively easy to snap different tabs on and off, replacement of worn parts or the addition of shims is relatively easy.

Thus not only has a durable card been provided, but one which may be easily manufactured and also is equally easily repaired. The card is easily cleared for replay and the tab when marking a number is releasably retained in position.

Also, since the tabs are easily removed, a handicap play is possible by removing certain tabs for one or several rows of numbers, which then make that row unplayable. The permutations thus may be increased without the necessity of distributing different cards.

Inasmuch as various modifications will now become apparent within the scope of the invention concept disclosed, it is not intended that protection of said invention should be interpreted as limited to the precise embodiment as has been particularly described, defined, or exemplified, since this disclosure is intended to explain the construction and operation of such concepts, and not for the purpose of limiting the protection thereof, but should be interpreted within the broadest aspects as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A bingo card marrking device comprising;

a base element having top and bottom sides and having on the top side a series of numerals arranged in horizontal and vertical rows;

a masking element tab adjacent to each numeral;

a snap fastener pivotally securing each tab to the base element and comprising a shank extending through said elements and having a head at one end opposing said base element at the bottom thereof;

means providing a high coefficient of friction between the head and the bottom side of said base element resisting turning of the fastener during normal pivotal movements of the tab element to covering and uncovering positions with reference to the adjacent numeral;

a snap removably fastened to said shank and embracing the respective tab element with the top side of the base element;

means providing a high coefficient of friction between the tab element and the snap to resist pivotal movement of the tab element with respect to said snap and said tab element and said top said of the base element having smooth engaging interfaces for accommo- 3. The invention according to claim 1 and said means providing high coefficient of friction comprising materials of such characteristics adhered to respective elements.

4. The invention according to claim 1 and said tab elements being made of polyethylene and having a relatively low coefficient of friction.

Claims (4)

1. A bingo card marrking device comprising; a base element having top and bottom sides and having on the top side a series of numerals arranged in horizontal and vertical rows; a masking element tab adjacent to each numeral; a snap fastener pivotally securing each tab to the base element and comprising a shank extending through said elements and having a head at one end opposing said base element at the bottom thereof; means providing a high coefficient of friction between the head and the bottom side of said base element resisting turning of the fastener during normal pivotal movements of the tab element to covering and uncovering positions with reference to the adjacent numeral; a snap removably fastened to said shank and embracing the respective tab element with the top side of the base element; means providing a high coefficient of friction between the tab element and the snap to resist pivotal movement of the tab element with respect to said snap and said tab element and said top said of the base element having smooth engaGing interfaces for accommodating pivotal movement therebetween with minimal wear.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and said snap having resilient portions reacting against the shank and biasing said snap against said tab element and the latter toward the top side of the base element for taking up wear therebetween and holding the fastener in cooperative engagement with the tab and the base elements.

3. The invention according to claim 1 and said means providing high coefficient of friction comprising materials of such characteristics adhered to respective elements.

4. The invention according to claim 1 and said tab elements being made of polyethylene and having a relatively low coefficient of friction.

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