Card tray

A universally attachable tray assembly adapted to be secured to table edges of various configurations including on the surface thereof a set of instructions regarding a particular card game, chip recesses for storing betting chips and a drink recess. The underside of the tray is provided with an orthogonal mounting surface arranged as a rectangular strip extending transversely across the tray bottom, the rectangular strip including a plurality of vertical slots formed therein for receiving securing fixtures. The vertical slots are separated by a dimension equal to the dimension separating a plurality of screw holes and slots formed in the surfaces of an angulated mounting bracket which may thus be secured in any angular arrangement to adapt to the edge configuration of the table. Included furthermore in the mounting bracket and offset from the screw holes therein are two spacer blocks, once more including the requisite fastener openings, the spacer block providing the desired separation of the mounting bracket to adapt to their regular edge shapes. In this manner the mounting bracket may be attached to the tray by wing nuts or similar attaching devices in any of its many attaching modes to conform to the various edge shapes normally found in card tables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to card trays, and more particularly to game 
organizing trays attachable to various card tables. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Any game of cards, when first played, requires all the concentrative powers 
of the player in order to be carried out successfully. In particular, the 
game of poker requires knowledge of elaborate rules detailed observation 
of the other hands played, and in particular, detailed observation of the 
betting as it proceeds around the table. Thus a novice is quickly 
overwhelmed by the number of tasks before him, and without a convenient 
means for organizing his game, quickly becomes a loser at the table. For 
this reason, the prior art included many varying card playing aids, some 
in the form of odds predictors and some others assisting the player in 
organizing his betting chips. Further prior art devices provided the 
inscriptions necessary to refresh the rules to the player. In each 
instance these prior art devices are rarely combined in a single unit and 
even where combined are not adapted to conveniently attach to the table 
structure on which cards are played. Thus, most often the poker tray is 
placed on the top of the table or along the edge thereof, very little 
assistance being provided the player in manipulating the cards to obtain a 
successful arrangement. 
Where card trays have been developed for table attachment, such most 
frequently was achieved by way of spring clips. This attachment fixture is 
often distracting, since the player, by varying the loads imposed can 
easily disrupt the arrangement. The previous spring clip arrangements, 
furthermore, are not totally adapted for the various table edges, and 
therefore, have had less than a prevailing acceptance in the marketplace. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a card tray which 
is universally securable to various card tables. 
Other objects of the invention are to provide a card tray which in its 
combined form includes provisions for displaying the rules of the card 
game, provides storage space for the betting chips and conveniently 
locates the various cards in the hand of the player. 
Additional objects of the invention are to provide a card tray which is 
conveniently adaptable to the table and which furthermore allows for 
convenient transfer of the card from the table surface onto the surface 
thereof. 
Briefly, these and other objects are objects of the present invention by 
providing a card tray substantially rectangular in plan form, the card 
tray including a raised edge around three sides of the periphery thereof 
and a tapered ramp on the fourth edge across which the cards placed on the 
table can be translated. Formed on the underside of the card tray and 
extending substantially transverse thereto is a rectangular, orthogonally 
aligned, mounting strip conformed to include a plurality of slots and 
recesses as required hereinbelow. An angular mounting bracket is 
attachable to this mounting strip by way of attachment fixtures of the 
thumb screw type, these fixtures being passed either through slots formed 
on one surface of the mounting bracket or through various attachment bores 
in the other surface thereof. In addition, the mounting bracket includes 
spacer blocks along the other surface through which separation can be 
achieved between the mounting strip and the bracket. It is this separation 
that allows for the retention of irregularly shaped edges in the card 
table. 
It is contemplated to further provide in the face of the tray an 
instruction area wherein game rules may be inscribed assisting the player. 
Furthermore, the same tray may include semi-circular recesses for storing 
chips of various denominations and a cup holder or ashtray to free the 
hands of the player.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT 
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a card tray, generally designated by the 
numeral 10, comprises a rectangular surface 11 bounded on three sides by a 
vertical edge strip 12 and chamfered on the fourth side along a chamfer 13 
towards the playing surface of a table 15. Formed in surface 11 are a 
plurality of semi-circular recesses 17 dimensioned to receive stacks of 
chips (not shown) according to their denomination. 
Also included on the surface 11 is an inscription area 18 having inscribed 
thereon various rules of the game. As set out herein, it is contemplated 
that the inscription area 18 includes the various hands possible in poker 
and while divided for that purpose, any other rules of card playing may be 
set forth. 
Formed adjacent the edge strip 12 and disposed externally to the surface 11 
is a circular cup-holder 21 which may also serve the alternative function 
of an ashtray. In this arrangement, the tray 10 provides all of the 
frequently used features attendant in playing of cards, assisting in the 
organizing the game which is of particular significance to a novice who is 
already burdened with the many other complexities. 
This tray configuration is attachable to the edge of the table 15 by way of 
a vertical attachment strip 25 disposed on the underside of surface 11, 
aligned transversely across the tray in a plane substantially parallel to 
the open edge. The free edge of the vertical attachment strip 25 is 
provided with two cut-outs 26 and 27 of rectangular planform, cut-outs 26 
and 27 being offset relative to similarly spaced elongate slots 28 and 29. 
Cut-outs 26 and 27 and slots 28 and 29 are utilized alternatively to 
attach a bracket generally designated by the numeral 50 to the tray 
assembly 10. 
More specifically bracket 50 includes an L-shaped surface 51 comprising two 
surface flats 52 and 53 joined on an orthogonal angle and reinforced at 
either end by a triangulating web 54. Formed in the surface of flat 52 are 
two fastener holes 56 and 57 separated by a dimension equal to the 
separation between slots 28 and 29 or the rectangular cut-outs 26 and 27. 
Included furthermore on flat 52 and projecting outwardly therefrom are two 
rectangular stand-offs 58 and 59, each conformed for receipt within a 
corresponding cut-out 26 and 27 and each offset from the openings 56 and 
57 by an amount equal to the offset between the cutout and slots in strip 
25. Stand-offs 58 and 59 furthermore include the necessary fastening bores 
61 and 62 to provide the alternative modes of attachment set out below. In 
a similar manner flat 53 includes two elongate slots 63 and 64, again 
dimensioned to conform with the dimension separating slats 28 and 29. 
Thus, either of the holes or openings 56 and 57 or the openings 61 and 62 
may be utilized in securing the mounting bracket 50 to the attachment 
strip 45. 
Alternatively, the slots 63 and 64 may be utilized for the same purpose. 
More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 these various attachment 
fixtures allow for a great degree of flexibility in accommodating table 
surfaces of various configurations. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the 
attachment of the bracket 50 to the strip 25 is achieved by way of the 
insertion of a wing nut 65 may be inserted through the bores 61 or 62 and 
the rectangular stand-offs, the wing nut once more being received within 
the corresponding slots 28 and 29. 
In a further alternative, as shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to insert the 
wing nut assembly 65 through the slots 63 or 64 and in turn pass the same 
wing nut assembly through the corresponding slots 28 and 29. Thus, the 
bracket attachment to strip 25 takes on three alternative forms, in the 
first alternative the provisions being made to adapt to a flat table 
structure while in the second alternative accommodation is made to provide 
a cavity for receiving a compound edge strip in the table. Where the table 
terminates and a flat thin-walled vertical strip, as shown in FIG. 6, the 
third alternative may be utilized, the provisions in slot 63 and 64 
insuring ample accommodations to the various width of the table edge. 
It is contemplated to use plastic material structure to achieve the 
features set out herein and to provide the necessary triangulating 
surfaces enhancing the strength thereof. More specifically, it is possible 
to extend the lateral edge strip 12 on the underside of the surface 11 to 
form a triangulating membrane 71 for supporting the vertical strip 25. 
Similarly, the upper geometry of the edge strip 12 may be geometrically 
controlled to provide the highest bending section at the point of juncture 
of the tray with the table 15. 
Obviously, many modifications and variations to the above disclosure can be 
made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore 
intended that the scope of the invention be determined solely on the 
claims appended hereto.