US3913921A - Mask for bingo card - Google Patents

Abstract

A mask for a bingo card comprising a sheet made of a plastic material having a first transparent clear portion representing a predetermined symbol composed of squares whose dimensions correspond to the ones of the squares of a bingo card and a second portion which is less transparent or which has a contrasting color with the first portion. The mask located over the bingo card enables to easily distinguish the squares of the card which must be filled in order to win.

Description

United States Patent 1 [111 3,913,921

Bourassa Oct. 21, 1975 [54] MASK FOR BINGO CARD 3,411,221 11/1968 Clark 35/9 3,603,592 9/1971 Bury 273/135 B [76] lnvemor' 2:8;m Txsf ziig 3,873,092 3 1975 Fagan 273/135 B [22] Filed: May 28, 1974 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Apley Assistant Examiner-Joseph R. Taylor [21] Appl' 473583 Attorney, Agent, or FirmRoland L. Morneau [52] US. Cl 273/135 B; 273/148 A; 273/157 A 57 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. A63F 3/06 1 581 Field of Search 273/ D, 130 R, 131 B, A mask for a bmgo Card comprlsmg a sheet made of a 273/130 G, 131 BB 134 B 134 G, 135 R, plastic material having a first transparent clear portion 135 AB, 135 B 135 BC 136 R 157 A 130 representing a predetermined symbol composed of B, 148 35/28 66, 9 R, 30 48 A, 9 G 9 squares whose dimensions correspond to the ones of 40/107, 110, 283/2 354/20; 356/ the squares of a bingo card and a second portion which is less transparent or which has a contrasting 5 References Cited color with the first portion. The mask located over the bingo card enables to easily distinguish the squares of UNITED STATES PATENTS the card which must be filled in order to win. 3,149,842 9/1964 Cirrincione 273/136 C 3,332,156 7/1967 Reeves 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 MASK FOR BINGO CARD The present invention relates to a mask for a bingo card.

It is now commonly known, at bingo games to give prizes not only to the first player who fills one row, one column or one diagonal on the bingo card, but also to the first player who succeeds to cover a predetermined symbol such as a letter of the alphabet, a diamond, a square, a double corner, etc. However, it is sometimes difficult to easily recognize a symbol, particularly when a game is played quickly, as it is usually the case. It often happens that a player realizes too late that he had a winning card. Such an omission can sometimes be the cause of a lost of a prize having a considerable value.

The object of the present invention is to facilitate the possibility of quickly distinguishing a predetermined symbol produced by a set of squares on a bingo card.

The means foreseen by the present invention to achieve the present object, is a mask made of plastic material and comprising a first transparent portion representing a predetermined symbol defined by a set of squares whose dimensions correspond to the ones of the squares of the bingo card, and a second portion which is less transparent or which has a color contrasting with the first portion, and this in order to facilitate the quick identification of the squares of the card which must be filled in order to win.

The portion of the mask representing the symbol is preferably made of clear or of a light color to easily distinguish the numbers of the bingo card through its surface and the other portion is of a darker color or shade to more easily mask the unrequired numbers.

The two portions of the card could also, if preferred, be of different light colors as long as it is possible to easily distinguish the symbol which is played.

The mask is preferably made of a semi-rigid plastic sheet so as to be easily manipulated, sliding resistant so as to prevent the bingo chips to slide over its surface and without glare to eliminate dazzling.

The invention will now be described by means of nonlimitating example by referring to an illustrated mask in the annexed drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plane view of the mask according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 is the mask shown in FIG. 1 positioned over a bingo card.

FIG. 1 illustrates a mask made of a sheet of plastic material comprising a transparent portion 12 representing the letter N and a less transparent portion or of a contrasting color 14. The portion 12 is preferably of a light color while the portion 14 is of a darker color. The two portions 12 and 14 can be of different colors as long as it is easily possible to distinguish the symbol which must be filled with bingo chips.

The mask 10 is of the same size as the part of the bingo card on which appear the numbers and the symbol. In the example illustrated, the letter N is composed of squares whose dimensions correspond exactly to the dimensions of the squares of the bingo card. In this manner, when the mask is located over the card, as shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to clearly distinguish the numbers which must be played in comparison with the numbers which must not be covered. In this manner, there will be no hesitation for a bingo player, that a specified number belongs to the symbol or not.

Obviously, a different mask will be needed for each of the symbols to be played. The usual symbols which are commonly called for during bingo games represent the letters C, E, F, H, I, J, L, M, N, O, T, U, X, Y, Z, W and the following symbols many.

Certain letters such as I, J W, Z and C can be simply obtained by rotating the mask because the latter is square in its outline. For example, the letter Z may be obtained by rotating the mask 10 of FIG. 1 by an angle of clockwise.

Because the central square of the bingo card is always free, that is, does not have to be filled with a bingo chip, the corresponding square on the mask may be left transparent or of a light color and on which may be printed the symbol which represents the mask so as to quickly distinguish the latter. For instance, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the letter N is printed on the central square because the mask itself has its clear portion 12 representing the letter N. The central square also identifies the letter Z which is printed in a direction at 90 from the letter N.

The masks 10 are preferably made of a semi-rigid plastic material so as to last longer and also so as to be more easily manipulated.

It is also preferable that the masks be made of a sliding resistant plastic material or having a rough surface so as to prevent the bingo chips from sliding on its surface.

It is also a preference of the present invention to prevent dazzling by producing a glare-free surface. This latter characteristic is important because it would be greatly embarrassing for a player to have the reflection of a luminaire of the room or hall where the game is played to reflect on the surface of the mask.

What I claim is:

l. A mask adapted to be laid over a bingo card having a plurality of square surfaces disposed over a large square area in adjacent columns and rows, each of said square surfaces displaying a printed number, the said mask comprising a sheet of semi-rigid plastic material having a square area, the said area having two portions of different transparencies, one of said portions covering the total surface of a group of square unitary surfaces and being substantially colorless to allow clear visibility therethrough, the said square unitary surfaces of the said group being aligned in such a way to define a large symbol, the second of said portions extending over the remaining part of the mask and being substantially less transparent than the said one portion so as to provide a reduced visibility therethrough, whereby the mask, when disposed over a bingo card displays a clear large symbol contrasting from the remaining part of the mask and allows the clear transmission through that symbol of a plurality of numbers identified thereunder on the bingo card.

2. A mask as recited in claim 1, wherein both faces of the mask are slide resistant.

3. A mask as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper face of the mask is glare-free.

Claims (3)

1. A mask adapted to be laid over a bingo card having a plurality of square surfaces disposed over a large square area in adjacent columns and rows, each of said square surfaces displaying a printed number, the said mask comprising a sheet of semi-rigid plastic material having a square area, the said area having two portions of different transparencies, one of said portions covering the total surface of a group of square unitary surfaces and being substantially colorless to allow clear visibility therethrough, the said square unitary surfaces of the said group being aligned in such a way to define a large symbol, the second of said portions extending over the remaining part of the mask and being substantially less transparent than the said one portion so as to provide a reduced visibility therethrough, whereby the mask, when disposed over a bingo card displays a clear large symbol contrasting from the remaining part of the mask and allows the clear transmission through that symbol of a plurality of numbers identified thereunder on the bingo card.

2. A mask as recited in claim 1, wherein both faces of the mask are slide resistant.

3. A mask as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper face of the mask is glare-free.

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