PLAYING CARD HOLDER

Abstract: A playing card holder which comprises: a) a generally upstanding slot means (11) extending into wings (13, 14), the slot means being formed from a front plate means and a rear plate means with an elongated depression (15) therebetween; the slot means being supported by b) a pillar (12) which is capable of being supported by a process selected from the group consisting of grasping the pillar by the fingers of one hand and supporting the pillar directly on a horizontal surface.

Description: TITLE OF INVENTION: PLAYING CARD HOLDER HELD 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. patent 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. patent 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° - 8°. 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: 1) a generally upstanding slot means extending into wings, the slot means being formed from a front plate means and a rear plate means with an elongated depression therebetween; the slot means being supported by 2) a pillar which is capable of being supported by a process selected from 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: Figure 1 is a view from the front and one side of the holder; Figure 2 is a view from the front and centre of the holder; Figure 3 is a view from the left side of the holder; Figure 4 is a plan view from the top of the holder; and Figure 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 100mm to 180mm 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 100mm to 180mm 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. 75 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 80 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. 85 The pillar preferably has a bottom adapted to enable the holder to sit on a flat surface. It is preferred that at least the bottom ends of each wing of the slot means and the bottom of the pillar be in a plane such that the holder may rest on these three 90 points (or regions) with the slot means extending upwards. Preferably the points (or regions) form a triangle with an apex substantially at the rearmost extremity of the pillar. 95 The apex of the triangle may be moved outwards to increase stability of the holder. The words "rearmost" and "outwards" refer to a direction externally and away from the curved slot means. 100 The device may be made of any suitable material such as laminated cardboard, wood or moulded plastic and may be covered with a suitable fabric or coating. Turning to the drawings, numeral 10 refers to the playing card holder as a whole. 105 The holder comprises a slot means 11 supported by a pillar 12. The slot means 11 comprises two wings 13 and 14. Slot means 11 is formed from rear plate means 15 and front plate means 16 which between them form elongated, parallel-sided depression 17 (when one considers 110 a vertical element of the depression). Pillar 12 ends in lower flat bottom 18. Just above flat bottom 18 is a finger- grasping portion 19.

Claims: 115 The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A playing card holder which comprises: a) a generally upstanding slot means extending into wings, the slot means being formed from a front plate means and a rear plate means with an elongated depression therebetween; the slot means being supported by 120 b) a pillar which is capable of being supported by a process selected from the group consisting of grasping the pillar by the fingers of one hand and supporting the pillar directly on a horizontal surface. 2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot means is curved. 125 3. A holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rear plate means forms a portion of the surface of a cylinder in which the radius of the cylinder is from 100mm to 180mm and the front plate is correspondingly so formed. 130 4. A holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein 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 100mm to 180mm and the front plate means is correspondingly so formed. 135 5. A holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elongated depression is substantially parallel-sided. 6. A holder as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elongated depression is so 140 dimensioned that a card may be grasped lightly at three points (or regions), two points in respect of the rear plate and one point in respect of the front plate. 7. A holder as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pillar has a bottom adapted to 145 enable the holder to sit on a flat surface. 8. A holder as claimed in claim 7, wherein the bottom ends of each wing of the slot means and the bottom of the pillar are in the same plane so that the holder may rest on three points (or regions). 150 9. A holder as claimed in claim 8, wherein both plate means are curved in a second direction so that the centre of each plate means over the pillar is higher than their respective wings. 155 10. A holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein the elongated depression is substantially parallel-sided. 11. A holder as claimed in claim 10, wherein the elongated depression is so dimensioned that a card may be grasped lightly at three points (or regions), 160 two points in respect of the rear plate and one point in respect of the front plate. 12. A holder as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pillar has a bottom adapted to enable the holder to sit on a flat surface. 165 13. A holder as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bottom ends of each wing of the slot means and the bottom of the pillar are in the same plane so that the holder may rest on three points (or regions). 170 14. A holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein both plate means are curved in a second direction so that the centre of each plate means over the pillar is higher than their respective wings. 15. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom ends of each wing of 175 the slot means and the bottom of the pillar are in a plane such that the holder may rest on these three points (or regions) with the slot extending upwards. 16. A holder as claimed in claim 15, wherein the points (or regions) form a 180 triangle with an apex substantially at the rearmost extremity of the pillar.

Inventors: HARLEY PETER JOHN, HARLEY, PETER, JOHN
Applicants: HARLEY PETER JOHN, HARLEY, PETER, JOHN
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A63F1
IPC codes: A63F1