Amusement devices: games – Games accessories – Hand holders
Patent
1996-08-07
1998-04-28
Chiu, Raleigh W.
Amusement devices: games
Games accessories
Hand holders
273148R, A63F 110
Patent
active
057435278
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an aid for holding and viewing playing cards.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a need for a device which will hold playing cards, for example, for use by children or others with small hands, by elderly people where strength and motor control is lacking and by disabled persons such as persons without one or both hands.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,520,490 Boward discloses a playing card holder. This device comprises a horizontal platform in association with an upright shield to guard the cards from observation. A grooved card holding strip is located on the horizontal platform.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,966 Sweet discloses a playing card holder which essentially comprises two plates which, when placed together, diverge within an angular range of about 1.degree.-8.degree.. Such divergence produces a tapered slot within which the playing cards are inserted. In other words the cards are held by a wedging action.
AU-A-26924/88 Krotofil also discloses a playing card holder which has an arcuate slot formed in at least one piece of resilient material. An essential feature of this device is the use of a relatively massive base included in this at least one piece of resilient material.
There is a need for a simple playing card holder which may be either held in the hand with comfort or placed on a horizontal surface such as a table.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a playing card holder which comprises: being formed from a front plate means and a rear plate means with an elongated depression therebetween; the slot means being supported by the group consisting of grasping the pillar by the fingers of one hand and supporting the pillar directly on a horizontal surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the playing card holder according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a view from the front and one side of the holder;
FIG. 2 is a view from the front and centre of the holder;
FIG. 3 is a view from the left side of the holder;
FIG. 4 is a plan view from the top of the holder; and
FIG. 5 is a view from the rear of the holder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The slot means is preferably curved, for example, so that the rear plate means forms a portion of the surface of a cylinder in which the radius of the cylinder is from 100 mm to 180 mm and the front plate is correspondingly so formed.
Alternatively the rear plate means forms a portion of the surface of a cone in which the radius at the top of the plate means is generally greater than the radius at the bottom of the plate means, each radius being from 100 mm to 180 mm and the front plate means is correspondingly so formed.
The elongated depression between the rear plate means and the front plate means is preferably substantially parallel-sided.
The elongated depression is so dimensioned that a card may be grasped lightly at three points (or regions).
The elongated depression is conveniently of uniform depth along its length.
The depth of the elongated slot is such that a playing card when fully inserted in the slot remains partially exposed to view.
Preferably the elongated depression is wider at the bottom than at the top.
Conveniently the top edge or edges of the elongated depression are bevelled to allow easy insertion of cards.
The elongated depression may be lined with a velvet-like fabric or other suitable coating so that cards when inserted are further restrained against movement by their contact with the soft lining of the elongated depression.
It is preferred that the top and bottom of both plate means be curved in a second direction so that the central region of each plate means which is located over the pillar is higher than the respective wings to deter opposing card players from seeing cards positioned at the wings and to allow the central pillar to be grasped by the hand of the card player.
The pillar preferably has a bottom adapted to enable the holder to sit on a flat surface.
It is preferred that at least the botto
REFERENCES:
patent: D367082 (1996-02-01), Harley
patent: 2520490 (1950-08-01), Boward
patent: 2628051 (1953-02-01), Anderson
patent: 2694576 (1954-11-01), Ivey
patent: 3620535 (1971-11-01), Cerney et al.
patent: 4266771 (1981-05-01), Carbone et al.
patent: 4625966 (1986-12-01), Sweet
patent: 4630824 (1986-12-01), Sweet
patent: 5029797 (1991-07-01), Levorchick et al.
Chiu Raleigh W.
Goldberg Richard M.
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