US546572A - Apparatus for playing duplicate whist - Google Patents

Description

P.-L. BARRO WS. APPARATUS FOR PLAYING DUPLICATE WHIST.

(No ModeL) No. 546,572. Patented Sept. 17, I895.

NLPPIOTO UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FRANK L. BARROWS, on IRON-WOOD, MICHIGAN.

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING DUPLICATE WHIST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,572, dated September 17, 1895. Application filed April 20, 1895. Serial No. 546,571- tNo model.)

'Toall whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, FRANK L. BARROWS, a

Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Playing Duplicate Whist; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient device for preserving a hand or assortment of cards in playing 'refjou or duplicate whist.

Various devices have been heretofore employed for this purpose, the most popular being that known as the Kalamazoo method/. in which a tray or board is provided with elastic bands, under which the cards are slipped afterbeing played. This device is objectionable, however, for the reason that the bands soon become stretched by use so as to lose their elasticity and fail to hold the cards when being passed from one table to another. Another device consists of a cross-shaped piece of'fiexible material having a pocket on each corner or end to receive the cards. This device is not generally used, for the reason as the several pockets must be folded over one,

upon another it cannot be handled rapidly and when folded its bulk is too great for con venience.

In order to overcome these objections I have provided a device in which the cards are held in pockets whichare arranged side by side in pairs and have a flexibleconnection between the pairs, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings; and the invention consists in certain novel features of the same, as will be hereinafter described and claimed;

In the drawings just referred to, Figure 1 is a plan view of myimproved device, one of the pockets being empty and the other having cards therein. Fig. 2 is a sectional View showing the devicefolded to permit the removal or insertion of the cards; and Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the device folded, so as to be passed to the next table.

In carrying out my invention I employ two narrow strips of light but stiff material (such as pasteboard) A, each of which has notches B cut in one of its longer side edges. These strips A are slightly longer than twice the length of the ordinary playing-card and about the same width as the card. Upon each of the strips I secure the boxes or pockets 0, of

some light stifi. material, the outer edges or sides of the pockets being closed, while the inner longer edges of the same are open to permit the insertion of the cards. These pockets are placed end to end, so as to bring the size of the device within the smallest practical limits,- and each one is ofsuch a height as to just receive and hold thirteen cards, or one whist-hand.

The strips A form the back of the device and are joined by a flexible connection D, in which I form the openings E in alignment with and forming continuations of the notches B in the inner side edges of the strips.

Upon the back of the device is printed or stamped a numeral F to denote the number of the hand held by the tray, and upon the inner face of the flexible connection may be placed instructions in the use of the tray, as indicated at G. The pockets bear upon their upper sides suitable symbols, as H, to denote the position of the tray on the table, and upon one of the pockets appears an index I to indicate the leader.

In practice the tray or board is opened and placed flat on the table with the pockets on "top, as will be readily understood and as shown in Fig. 1. After the tray has been shifted so as to bring the several hands into proper position before the respective players itis bent back, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit the removal of the cards. The cards are played in the usual manner, and after the result is scored the cards are returned to the pockets, the tray being bent back, as shown in Fig. 2. The tray is then folded, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to entirely cover the cards and passed over to the next table or put aside to be overplayed at a future time.

The device is of an extremely simple construction and can be used without inconvenience. The hands are held securely and all liability to drop the same in handling the trays is overcome. When the trays are not in use, they occupy very little room, as the pockets hold the hands in the most compact manner possible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A duplicate whist apparatus consisting essentially of a medially divided tray, and a flexible connection between the two portions of the tray, each portion of the tray carrying two pockets to receive hands of cards and the flexible connection being provided with openings between the pockets to facilitate the insertion and removal of the cards.

2. A device for playing duplicate whist consisting of two strips of light stiff material having notches in their inner edges, a flexible connection between said strips having openings in alignment with said notches, and pockets on the inner sides of said strips adapted to receive and hold the cards, said pockets being suitably inscribed to denote the lead and the position of the tray on the table.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK L. BARROWS. Witnesses:

CHARLES M. I'IUMPHREY, A. D. GARNER.

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