US868928A - Bridge-whist apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTBD OCT. 22. 1907.

BRIDGE WHISTAPPARATUS.

`APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. 1906.

'ms NaRRIs PETERS co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

FRANK HURD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BRIDGE-WRIST APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed April 19,1906. Serial No. 312,580.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. HURD, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridge- Whist Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to bridge whist apparatus, and more particularly to a class thereof especially adapted for use in playing two handed bridge whist wherein each player plays from a dummy hand.

The main object of the invention is to provide a bridge whist apparatus embodying in compact and convenient form card racks, each adapted to hold the cards of a dummy hand of one player in a manner to entirely conceal the faces thereof from an opponent while exposing them to himself; and at the same time to hold each card apart from every other card in this rack so as to permit it to be removed from the rack without disturbing or exposing adjoining cards.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character embodying card supporting racks which will be so constructed and arranged as to permit the combination therewith of a complete apparatus wherein the racks, playing cards, score cards, and pencils or other means to be used in recording the score, may be conveniently stored, the parts receiving said elements or members of the players outfit also serving when the racks are in use as a means properly positioning said racks relative to each other, and further as a partition to hold the cards in each rack distinct and apart from those in the other rack, thus preventing one player from accidentally disturbing the dummy hand of his opponent.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus of this character wherein all the cards in each rack will be simultaneously exposed to the player entitled to play from that dummy hand, and will be so positioned as to come fairly within the line of vision of the player when the rack is positioned on a table or playing board below his eye. And a still further object is to provide an apparatus of this character embodying all the essential elements or members for playing the game of bridge whist, or means adapted to receive such, so arranged as to be capable of being folded together, the receptacles for said elements or members when so folded together forming a neat, compact cabinet which may be closed by a cover, thus protecting the various elements or members therein contained when not in use.

The invention consist primarily in a new article of manufacture, a bridge whist apparatus, comprising a support having a plurality of parallel card receivers formed therein or carried thereby, said receivers being set at an angle relative to the support; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of a bridge whi st apparatus embodying my invention showing cards in each rack; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with one side wing folded up and the other dropped down, the cover of the cabinet being positioned directly above, and Fig. 3v is a plan view of the apparatus with both wings dropped down.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views. p

In the embodimentY of the invention shown in th e drawings, I have shown oppositely disposed card racks, each of which preferably consists of a rectangular wooden support a having thirteen parallel card receivers a formed therein or carried thereby, and extended rearwardly from the front of said support at an angle of substantially 45 degrees. Preferably these receivers are slots cut in said support of a depth sufficient to hold a card upright, and they are set at an angle as aforesaid, to permit the rack so made being so set as to have all the cards contained therein face the player, and to expose a good part of each card along the front of the rack the index corner of each card especially being exposed. This arrangement also projects the front edge of each card beyond that of an adjoining card, and holds the cards so apart that the player may readily grasp any card and remove it from the rack without touching or disturbing any other card. Said slots or other receivers, a are also preferably set at an angle to a vertical plane through said support so as to project each card away from a player and bring it squarely within the line of vision, when the rack is positioned on a table or playing board below the eye of the player. The card receivers 0/ on the opposite supports a preferably extend on the same or parallel lines, so that when cards are placed therein, they will face the player and present only the backs of the cards to his opponent, thus avoiding the exposure of either playerks dummy hand to his opponent.

To insure the proper positioning of the card racks relative to each other, I preferably mount each support a upon a side wing b which wings respectively are hinged to the opposite sides of a central section c, thusforming an extended base for said supports, and permanently uniting them. I also preferably provide the section c with a partition d of the same or greater length than said supports a, extending parallel to said supports, which partition prevents cards in the receivers of one rack being pushed against or accidentally mixed with those in the opposite rack, either when distributing the cards of the dummy hand or in removing the cards therefrom as played.

To increase the utility of the apparatus, I utilize the partition d as a support for straps or strips e, fand g forming respectively a pocket for score cards as e extending substantially the full length of said partition on one side thereof, and pockets for packs of cards as f/ g/ on the other side thereof. Suitable bottom blocks, or pedestals may be arranged beneath the straps f g to project the score cards or playing cards beyond the top of the partition d suflicicntl y to permit the convenient removal of said cards from their pockets.

Extending across each end of the section c from hinge to hinge of the side wings b, is an end piece h of a height corresponding to the width of the said wings b and exceeding the height of the partition d, Which partition extends from one end piece to the other, said end pieces with the side wings l) when folded up forming a cabinet adapted to have a cover t' fitted thereover to close same and protect the Avarious articles therein contained, Care must be taken to have the section c of a width sulficient to'provide room beyondithe straps cf g to accommodate the supports a when the side wings are folded up. Preferably l extend the said wings beyond the supports a and to a point where the ends thereof, when the wings are folded up, will abut against th e side edges of the end pieces h, and thus insure the neat appearance of the cabinet when closed.

The supports a are preferably about h alf the width of a playing card and of the side wings b, and are so positioned toward the edge of the said wings as to provide a space on the wings b between said supports and the section c, wherein I place small loops j adapted to receive pencils as j/ The herein described apparatus is especially designed for use in two handed or double dummy bridge whist and in describing' how it may be used, a general outline only of that game -is required. The dealer, as in the regular game, deals four hands of thirteen cards each, and each player bids from one hand and allows the other hand allotted to him to remain buried until the trump has been named. Thereupon each player takes his dummy hand and arranges the cards by suits or according to the value of the cards, in the receivers a of the support a toward him, with the cards facing outwardly or away from the partition d.

The receivers of extending at an angle of approximately i5 degrees, the entire apparatus may be set to one side of the table or board leaving a free field for each play. When so set, by slight shifting of the apparatus, the cards in each rack may be brought to squarely face the player' who is to play from that hand, the protruding ends or sides of the cards in each rack exposing enough of every card in the rack to identify that card. 'lhe partition d serves to prevent the cards in either rack being accidentally pushed therefrom to an extent to cause them to mix with the cards in the other rack. lt will also be observed the receivers a being spaced apart, there is sullicient rooln between the cards to permit the protruding ends or sides of any card to be grasped without danger of disturbing and exposing other cards. The cards having been so distributed, the game is played in the usual manner, one card being played from his own-hand and one fiom the dummy hand of each participant in the game to each trick.

When a game is ended, the unused score cards are placed in the pocket formed by the strap e the decl; of cards f or gf, within one pocket formed by the strap f or g; and the pencils jf within their loops j and the side wings b are then folded upon the end pieces h and the cover 'L' placed thereover to hold them in this position.

It will be observed that the most important features of my invention is the arrangement of the receivers in a manner to hold each card apart from every other card, and all the cards upon substantially parallel lines at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from the support for said receivers, thus permitting all said cards to be spread out similarly to the method employed inliolding cards, with the face towards the player and enough of each card exposed to identify it, the other features 'being detailed means for conveniently carrying out this broad idea. It is my intention, therefore, to claim this construction and arrangement broadly, the details being susceptible of variations without departing from t' e spirit and scope of the invention considered broadly.

The manner of uniting the various parts of the cabinet l have not described in det-ail, the same being a part of the box makers7 art and forming no part of this invention. Preferably l employ cardboard covered and united with pebbled paper, but leather, wood or other material may be substituted therefor.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is:

1. As :i new article of manufacture, a bridge whist apparatus comprising a central section, side wings, hinged to, and adapted to be folded against, said central section, and a card rack carried by each of said wings comprising a block having a plurality of parallel slots therein cut :it an angle to the edge of the block, said blocks being of a thickness to be contained by said central section when said wings :ire folded relative to said central section.

2. As a new article ot' manufacture, a bridge whist apparatus comprising a central section, side wings hinged thereto,` end pieces, a card ruck carried by each said wings, comprisingl a plurality of parallel card receivers pitched at an angie relative to the front of each ot' said wings and means adapted to secure said parts in a closed position when said wings are folded against said end pieces.

As a new article of manufacture, a bridge whist apparatus comprising a central section, side wings hinged thereto, end pieces, a partition on said central section connecting said end pieces, a card rack carried by each of said wings, and :i cover adapted to inclose the top edges of said side wings :ind said end pieces.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a bridge whist apparatus comprising a central section, side wings hinged thereto, end pieces, a partition on said central section connecting said end pieces, a card rack carried by each said wing comprising a block support having a plurality of parallel slots therein cut at an angle of substantially '-15 degrees to the front of said block, and a cover adapted to inclose the top edges of said side wings and said end pieces.

l5. As a new article of manufacture, a bridge whist apparatus comprising a central section, side wings hinged thereto. end pieces, a partition on said central section connecting Vsaid end pieces, a plurality of straps forming pockets on opposite sides of said partition adapted to i'eceive score cards and playing cards, loops adapted to receive a pencil on each said wing, a card rack carried by each said wing comprising a block support having a plurality ot' parallel slots therein cut at an angle of substantially l5 degrees to the front of said block, and a cover adapted to inclose the top edges of said side wings and said end pieces.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto atlixed my signature, this 10th day of April, 1906, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK B, HURD.

Witnesses z Jol-1N B. OLLnn, HENRY C. Jamin.

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