US949379A - Tally-board. - Google Patents

Description

H. R. PATBIAROHB.

TALLY BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED APRJS. 1906.

949,379. Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

HUGH R. PATRIARCHE, OF WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.

[RALLY-BOARD.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IUGH R. PATRIAROHE, residing in lVinnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tally-Boards, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in tally-boards for use in playing games of cards such as cribbage, whist, or the like, .or in fact adapted for use in various kinds of games which necessitate the keeping of a score or record.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and cheap construction of tally-board of such form that a complete and accurate record may be conveniently kept during play, not only of the points made, but also of the number of games won, etc.

lVith the above primary object, and other incidental objects, in view, the invention consists of the devices and parts, or their equivalents, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a tally-board constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a right hand edge view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view of one end of the board, showing the pointers in full lines swung outwardly, and in dotted lines swung inwardly; Fig. 1 is a fragmentary detail view of the board and rail with the traveler in section, on the dotted line 4 t of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of construction of the tally-board; Fig. 6 is a transverse section of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan view of another modified form of the tally-board; Fig. 8 is a cross section of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a plan view of still another modified form of the invention; Fig. 10 is a cross section of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a cross section of a modified form of Fig. 5; Fig. 12 is a cross section of a modified form of construction of Fig. 9; and Fig. 13 is a view of a modified form of the device for keeping a record of the number of games won, etc.

The numeral let indicates the base or board, in all the figures of the drawings, and which may be square, rectangular or any other desired and convenient shape. In the form of construction shown on Sheet 1 of the drawings the base or board has connected thereto, and extending longitudinally Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 13, 1906.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Serial No. 311,473.

thereof, two rails 15, 15, the upper edge of each rail being enlarged to form a head, so that the rail is T-shaped or substantially T-shaped in cross section. The upper surface of the head of each rail is formed or provided with teeth or serrations 16. A traveler 17 is adapted to be movable over the serrated surface of each rail, and in the Sheet 1 form of construction this traveler is of an inverted U-shape form, the depending legs thereof extending down opposite sides of the rail and provided near their lower ends with inwardly extending pins 18, 18 which bear lightly against opposite sides of the rail. By this construction, the traveler may be raised slightly so as to be lifted out of the space between any of the two teeth or serrations, and thereby permitted to be moved to some other position on the rail, and when so moved permitted to drop again into the space between two of the serrations atthe point of adjustment. The pins 18 act as stops which contact with the under side of the head of the rail when the traveler is pulled upwardly, whereby the entire withdrawal of the traveler from engagement with the rail is prevented. The top of the traveler is cut away at one side to form a seat or bearing 19 for a pointer 20, said pointer being mounted at one end on a pivot pin 21.

The base or board has thereon, on opposite sides of each rail, and parallel with the rail, a series of numbers divided or arranged in multiples of five, by having the fifth number throughout the series otfset or out of alinement with the other numbers, and a series of pointers marked 22, printed or otherwise delineated on the board, may be conveniently used for the purpose of point ing to the offset number, and forming divi sion marks between which the four numbers preceding the offset number are disposed. These pointers 22 extend from opposite sides of each rail laterally to the offset numbers, and are so disposed as to have four numbers arranged therebetween. The numbers run from 1 consecutively in regular progression. In Fig. 1 I show the numbers on the right hand side of the right hand rail as running from 1 to 30, the numeral 1 being disposed near what may, for convenience, be termed the upper edge of the board, and the numbering then continued downwardly consecutively; while on the opposite side of this right hand rail, the numbering starts with the numeral 31 at the lower edge of the board, and continues upwardly progressively to the top edge of said board, ending with the number 60. WVith respect to the numbering on opposite sides of the left hand rail of Fig. 1, this is a duplicate of the numbering described with reference to the right hand rail, except that the numeral 1 of the line of figures from 1 to 30 starts at the lower edge of the board and continues upwardly, and the numeral 31 of the line of figures from 31 to 60 begins at the upper edge of the board, and the numbering continues downwardly; or in other words, the arrangement is the exact reverse of that of the two lines of numbers on the right hand side of the board. The lines of numerals may contain a greater or less number of numerals than shown in Fig. 1, according to conditions, and the size of the board.

In the use of the device as thus far explained the two players are seated at what I term the upper and lower edges of the board. The player at the lower edge of the board, therefore, is in position to conveniently use the numbers on the right hand side of the board, and the player seated at the upper edge of the board is in convenient osition for using the numbers at the left and side of said board. The pointer 20 on the right hand side is shown as pointing j to the number 11, thus indicating that the player seated at the lower edge of the board has eleven points to his credit. If now this player, in the next play, secures six additional points, it is necessary for him, in the counting operation, to raise the traveler so as to release it from engagement with the serrations, and then move said traveler toward the lower edge of the board until the traveler reaches a point opposite the number 17. The traveler is then allowed to reseat itself in the space between the serrations alined with the number 17, and the traveler is thus held releasably at this adjusted position, it being understood that each of the spaces between the serrations or teeth are alined with two of the numbers on opposite sides of the rails. The pointer, of course, in the operation just described is turned over to the right, as shown in Fig. 1. The player referred to continues to count in this manner until the numeral 30 is reached. After this the pointer is thrown over to the left, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the playerthen moves the traveler from the lower edge of the board upwardly toward the upper edge thereof.

The opposing player who is seated at the upper edge of the board performs the operation of counting in exactly the same manner, excepting, of course, that he moves the traveler first from the lower edge of the board upwardly until the numeral 30 is reached, after which he throws the pointer 20 over to the right, and then moves the traveler from the upper edge of the board toward the lower edge thereof.

In connection with my improved tallyboard, it is a matter of great convenience to employ a means adapted for keeping an accurate record of the number of games won by the respective players; or in games where the number of points to be secured in order to win runs up into high figures, say, for instance, three-hundred, I am able to employ the said means for keeping a record of the number of times the traveler has made a complete back and forth travel on the rail. In this latter use of the device the player is enabled at a glance to determine how many points he or his opponent has made, or to determine at a glance how many points yet remain to be made by himself or by the op ponent, in order to win the game. On Sheet 1 of the drawings, I show a form of such device, there being one of said devices for each player, arranged between the rails 15, and disposed, respectively, near the upper and lower edges of the board. Each consists of a series of holes or recesses 23, arranged in a circle. Any desired number of these holes or recesses may be employed, and in the accompanying illustration I have shown fifteen numbered consecutively from 1 to 15. In the center of the circle is a stud 24, and to this stud is attached one end of a flexible device 25, preferably in the form of a small chain. The outer end of this flexible device has connected thereto a pin 26, the lower end of which is adapted to be inserted in any one of the series of holes. In order to limit the extent of the insertion of the pin, it is advisably provided with a stop shoulder 27.

In Fig. 1, the pin 26 of the lower device is shown as inserted in number 3 hole, thus indicating that the player seated at the lower edge of the board has either won three games, or that his pointer has made three complete trips up and down the rail, dependent upon how the device is being used. The pin 26 of the upper device is shown as engaging the number 9 hole, thus indicating that the player at the upper edge of the board has either won nine games, or that his pointer has made nine complete trips up and down the left hand rail, in accordance with the manner in which the devices are being used.

In the five different modifications of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 10 in clusive, and in Figs. 11 and 12, on Sheet 2 of the drawings, the boards are of less width than the board illustrated in Fig. 1, and are only intended for use by one player, thus necessitating a separate device for each player. Of course, the tally-board construction illustrated on Sheet 1 may also, if desired, be made up in like form.

Referring to the Figs. 5 and 6 form of construction, the board has mounted thereabove and longitudinally thereof a rail 28 in the form of a round rod supported at opposite ends in short post 29 projecting upwardly from the base. The numbers in the line on the right hand side of rail 28 run in regular sequence from 1 at the upper edge of the board, to 15 at the lower edge thereof, and the numbers in the line on the left hand side of the rail run in regular sequence from 16 at the lower edge of the board to 30 at the upper edge of said board, this numbering, and the numbering in any of the forms of construction, of course, being susceptible to change to suit requirements. Alined with each number in both lines of numbers is a recess 30. The traveler in this modified construction is in the form of a sleeve 31 loosely encircling the rod, and the pointer, inclicated by the numeral 32, is in the form of a short arm rigid to and extending outwardly from the sleeve, and having a swiveled connection at its outer end with the center of a dog 33. Normally this dog is in an upright position so that its lower end may engage any one of the series of openings 30. \Vhen the board is not in use, the dog 33 may be turned to a horizontal position so as to afford better facility for packing. It will be understood that the swivel connection is somewhat stiff so that the dog 33 will remain inv the position in which it may be turned.

From the description of the construction of this form of the device, its method of use will be obvious, the traveler in any of its adjustments being held releasably in adjusted position by the engagement of the lower end of the dog 33 with the particular recess with which it is alined, either on the right hand side of the rail or on the left hand side of the rail dependent upon whether the pointer 32 is swung over to the right or to the left.

In the Figs. 7 and 8 form of construction a rod 34, similar to the rod 28 of Figs. and 6, and supported at opposite ends in short uprights 35, 35, is employed as the rail for the traveler. This rod lies between and is parallel with the two members 36, 36, of a two-part retaining device, the said members provided on their upper edges with teeth or serrations 37. A traveler 38 is movable on the rail 3st, and this traveler, like the Figs. 5 and 6 construction, is in the form of a sleeve loosely encircling the rail, and has a pointer in the form of an arm 39 rigid therewith and projecting therefrom. This pointer, however, is not provided with the swiveled engaging dog, as in the Figs. 5 and 6 construction. It may, however, if desired, terminate in a rounded end piece 40.

From the description of the construction of the Figs. 7 and 8 form the method of using the same will also be apparent. The pointer of course when being used in connection with the right hand line of figures is held in adjusted position by engaging the spaces between the teeth or serrations of the right hand member of the retaining device, and when swung over to the left, and is being moved along the left hand line of figures it is held in adjusted position by engaging in the spaces between the serrations of the left hand retaining device.

In the Figs. 9 and 10 form of construction, the rail consists of a tube atl resting upon and extending the length of the board and secured at its ends in lugs 42, 412. This tube is split in its top so as to leave a top opening a3 extending longitudinally thereof, the bordering edges of said opening being toothed or serrated, as indicated by the numeral 4.4. The traveler is in the form of a short cylindrical member disposed within the tube, and the pointer consists of an arm 46 rigidly secured to and projecting from the said traveler, and terminating, preferably in a rounded outer end M. The traveler of course is fitted sufiiciently loose in the tube to permit of its free movement within the tube, and the said traveler is held in adjusted position by the engagement of the pointer 4:6 with the spaces between the right hand teeth or serrations, or the spaces between the left hand teeth or serrations, depending upon whether the pointer is thrown over to the right or left.

The modified form of construction illustrated in section by Fig. 11 is similar to the Figs. 5 and 6 construction, except that the pointer in this modified form the pointer is carried at the end of a short chain, or other flexible device, 4E8, connected at one end to the traveler 31, the opposite end of said chain carrying a pin a9 constituting the pointer and adapted to engage with any of the series of recesses 30, instead of the rigid arm 32, and swiveled dog 33 of Figs. 5 and 6.

The modified form of construction illustrated in Fig. 12 is similar to the Figs. 9 and 10 form, except that the serrations on the bordering edges of the opening 13 are omitted, and the arm or pointer at is also omitted, and in lieu of the latter a short chain, or other flexible device, is employed, which at one end is connected to a lug 51 projecting upwardly from the traveler and through the opening as, and at its opposite end connected to a pin constituting the pointer, the lower end of said pin adapted to engage any one of a series of recesses similar to the recesses 30 of the Figs. 5 and 6 and Fig. 11 forms of con struction, and disposed similarly to said recesses 30.

Fig. 13 of the drawings illustrates a modified form of the device for keeping a record of the games won, or for keeping a record of the number of times the traveler makes a complete trip back and forth on the rail.

In this modified form a series of recesses similar to the recesses 23 of the Sheet 1 form of construction, and similarly arranged in a circle, and numbered from 1 consecutively is employed. In the center of the circle is an upwardly extending pin 53, and slidably mounted on this pin is a collar 54, the upper portion 01": this collar being preferably in the form of a milled disk 55 for convenience in raising and lowering and turning the collar. Projecting from the collar is an arm 56, which is bent clownwardly at its outer end to form the downwardly projecting member 57, the lower end of'which is adapted to engage any one of the series of recesses 23. This modified device is used in the same way as the form illustrated on Sheet 1, that is to say, if one of the players has four games to his credit, the collar 54 is raised on the pin, and swung around until the depending member 57 is above the recess numbered 4. The collar is then permitted to slide downwardly on the pin, and the depending member 57 thereby made to engage the recess adjacent to the numeral 4. Exactly the same operation is gone through with in keeping an account of the number of times the traveler makes a trip back and forth on the rail.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention is;

1. In a tally-board, the combination with a board having a line of characters delineated thereon, a rail extending along the board parallel with the line of characters, the upper surface of said rail provided with a series of teeth or serrations, a traveler fitted to the rail and adapted to be movable therealong and held in adjusted position on the rail by engagement with the teeth or serrations, and a pointer carried by the traveler. v

2. In a tally-board, the combination of a board having a line of characters delineated thereon, a rail extending along said board parallel with the line of characters, the said rail having its upper end enlarged to form a head, an inverted U-shaped traveler fitted over the head of the rail, the depending portion thereof provided with an inwardly-extending stop adapted to contact with the under side of the head of the rail when the traveler is raised upwardly, and a pointer carried by the traveler.

3. In a tally-board, the combination of a board having two lines of characters delineated thereon, a rail disposed between said lines of characters and parallel therewith, a traveler fitted over the rail, and a pointer pivoted to the upper portion of the traveler.

4C. In a tally-board, the combination of a board having two lines of characters delineated thereon, a rail disposed between said lines of characters and extending parallel therewith, the upper edge of said rail being enlarged to form a head, and the upper surface of said head provided with a series of teeth or serrations, an inverted U-shaped traveler fitted over the rail, the depending port-ion thereof provided with an inwardlyextending stop adapted to contact with the underside of the head of the rail, when the traveler is raised, and a pointer pivoted to the traveler.

5. I11 a tally-board, the combination of a base having lines of characters delineated thereon, one line of said characters running in regular sequence from the upper edge to the lower edge of the base, and the other line of characters running in regular sequence from the lower edge to the upper edge of said base, lines delineated on the base between the two lines of characters and separating the characters into a series of subdivisions, a distinguishing space mark for each character also delineated on said base between the two lines of characters to locate a pointer to indicate the points of the game scored on said tallyboard, and a pointer to coact with the space marks to indicate the points of the game.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses' HUGH R. PATRIAR-CHE. lVitnesses H. Bonn, A. C. FERGUSON.

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