Improvements in Card Tables.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Card Tables.
I, HENRY MATHIAS WEAVER, Mansfield, Ohio, U.S.A., Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to an improvement in card tables especially adapted for
playing duplicate whist.
The object sought in the game is to keep the "hands" intact, and after each
set of partners have played with a series of hands, the series are exchanged and
then played by their opponents in the game. In this way the skill of the opposing
sides and the individual players is clearly demonstrated.
My device comprises a table having four slots or openings therein equi-distant
from each other, a series of radial card receptacles, and means for rotating the
part carrying the card receptacles whereby four hands are simultaneously exposed
at the four openings.
The main object of my invention is to provide a card table with openings adjacent
to the four sides of the table and with means carrying cards adapted to register
with the four openings.
A further object is to provide means for simultaneously pushing the four hands
exposed at the openings through or partly through said openings whereby they
can be conveniently grasped by the players.
A further object is to provide devices for restoring the hands to their receptacles
after same have been played.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a table embodying my
invention, a portion of the table top being removed. Fig. 2 is a view in section
showing the mechanism for rotating the part containing the receptacles and for
ejecting the cards. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation of a portion of the
actuating mechanism and Fig. 4 is a view in plan of the cam.
It is essential to have as many packs of cards as there are hands" played and
usually the number of "hands" will be a multiple of four, e.g., 8, 12, 16, 20, etc.,
so that in my table, supposing it to be adapted to hold twenty packs of cards
there will be eighty receptacles, each holding thirteen cards constituting a single
hand.
In the drawings A¹ represents the table of any design, provided at its sides,
immediately below the top, with four openings B arranged at diametrically
opposite points. These openings are of a size sufficient to permit of the ready
passage of one "hand" of cards.
Secured to the underside of the table top is the casting J, which latter carries
the shaft I located centrally below the table top. The shaft is supported in the
casting J against vertical displacement, by pin a and washer b, while its lower end
is supported and held in place by a seat formed in the bottom section C¹ of the
table top.
Rigidly secured to shaft I is the gear B, and cam K, and loosely mounted on
said shaft is the gear E. Gear B is provided internally with eighty eight teeth

page_text: and meshes with wheel A' on shaft A2, the wheel A¹ being provided with
twenty two teeth. The shaft A2 is suitably mounted in casting J and in the table
top, and preferably terminates below the top so as to present a smooth top to the
table when the crank H is removed from the shaft.
Wheel B is also provided on its outer edge with four teeth 132 arranged equi-
distant apart, the sections B of the wheel between the teeth being curved in the
are of a circle and forming locking surfaces which operate to hold the wheel C
against rotation as the, wheel B is rotating from one tooth 132 to the next tooth B².
Wheel C is provided with six "teeth C₁, and as it is rotated by teeth B2 on
wheel B it will be seen that a quarter revolution of wheel B will turn wheel C one
sixth of a revolution and that but a limited movement of B is necessary to impart
the necessary movement to wheel C. During the further movement of wheel B
from one tooth B2, to. the next tooth B2, the surface 131 of wheel B engaging the
curved outer edges of teeth C₁ of wheel C, locks the latter wheel against rotation.
Wheel C see Fig. 3, is secured on shaft C3 which is suspended from casting J
by a pin and washer, and is supported near its lower end by the brace C. Secured
to the lower end of this shaft below brace C is the pinion D, which is provided
with twelve teeth and meshes with the teeth of the internal gear E. This gear E
has one hundred and sixty teeth, and hence it will be seen that a one sixth re-
volution of wheel C will rotate gear E two teeth, and as the gear has one hundred
and sixty teeth, it follows that one movement imparted to the wheel C by the
mutilated gear B, moves gear wheel E one eightieth of a total revolution.
Secured rigidly to the lower face of gear wheel E is the support or disk F on
which the pockets G to hold the cards or "hands" are secured.
There are eighty of these pockets, each of a size to readily hold thirteen cards,
or a whist hand.
The support or disk F is preferably made of sheet metal and rests slightly above
the lower section C¹ of the table top. The card receptacles G are arranged radially
around the outer edge of the disk or support F and are regularly spaced so that
at each movement of the shaft (3 the disk or support is moved one eightieth of
a complete revolution thus presenting one card receptacle at each of the four
openings B in the table.
A complete revolution of crank H and wheel A¹, moves the wheel B one quarter
revolution, and as the wheel C is given its partial turn by a single tooth 132 of
wheel B, the time consumed by the remaining portion of wheel B through its
quarter stroke is utilized by the devices employed for pushing cards out through
the openings B4, and pushing cards back into the receptacles.
Located immediately behind and in line with the openings 13 are the rods R,
one at each opening, and on the inner end of each rod is a cam roller s. As the
operation of the four ejecting devices are identical an explanation of the con-
struction and operation of one will suffice for all.
The cam roller rests within the cam groove in wheel K, which as before ex-
plained is rigidly secured to the shaft I and hence like the wheel B makes a
quarter revolution at each complete turn of the crank H. The cam groove in the
wheel K, is divided into four sections each of which resembles the letter V and
presenting in plan four projections. When the cam roller s is at the juncture of
two of these V-shaped sections, or when at a point L, nearest the shaft I, the
roller is at a point of rest, and represents the position of the roller when the cards
have been pushed into the receptacles. The slot is so shaped that this state of
rest is continued sufficiently long for the master wheel B to rotate wheel C
one sixth of a revolution and thus move the disk or support F a distance equal
to the space of one card receptacle. The movement of the cam roller s from the
Point L to the point L' moves the rod R outwardly. This rod as before stated is
located in a line with the opening B and when moved outwardly as above ex-
plained, the head R2 comes in contact with the cards in the receptacle G which
Jatter has been moved between the head R2 and the opening B4, the upper rear
section of the receptacle G being cut away or open to permit the head R³ to engage

page_text: the cards. As the rod R moves outwardly the cards in receptacle G are forced
outwardly until their outer ends project sufficiently outside of opening B to
permit them to be readily grasped by the player.
The rod is mounted in a bearing R, and also by a bearing (not shown) near
its inner end and is provided at a point in rear of the bearing R³ with an upwardly
projecting arm R to which the rod R5 is secured. This rod R5 is pivotally
secured at its outer end to the restorer R6 which is bent somewhat in the shape of
a U and is pivoted at r within the opening B. The lower or free end of this
restorer R, normally rests well down in the opening and prevents the withdrawal
of the cards opposite the opening. When however rod R is moved outwardly,
rod R is also moved in the same direction thus causing the restorer to turn on its
pivot r to a position above the cards thus permitting the latter to be pushed out
by the rod R. When the rod is moved inwardly by the cam K, the restorer
descends and pushes the cards which have been inserted in the opening B into
the receptacle G. The position of the parts at the commencement of a game, or
aftor the hands played have been restored to their receptacle is shown in Figure 2,
and when in such position the cam rests in its position nearest the shaft I. While
the four hands are being played the cam rests in the portions of the groove
farthest removed from the shaft I, hence the rod R would be projected outwardly
and the restorer elevated. By placing the hands in the openings B and turning
the crank, the cams move inwardly thus withdrawing rods R and lowering the
restorers R6, and after these parts reach their innermost positions, they come to
a temporary rest as before explained and it is during this rest that the next
series of receptacles are brought into alignment with the four openings.
It will be noticed that the crank can be rotated in either direction thus per-
mitting the parts to be moved in either direction..
In using the table the cards are regularly shuffled and dealt and the four hands
(of thirteen cards each) comprised in a pack of cards are then placed each in a
receptacle which for convenience I have designated as number 1, there being one
such receptacle, to each of the four divisions of the table, or if desired .the cards
may be distributed among the several players, and the hands played after which
the crank is turned (if necessary) to raise the restorer. The cards are then placed,
each hand in its own receptacle; and the crank again turned. The first movement
of the parts lowers the restorer which forces the cards snugly back into place,
while the continued movement turns the disk or support F and brings the next
set of receptacles G into alignment with the openings B, and elevates the restorer.
The next pack of cards is then placed in receptacles 2 and this is continued until
the twenty (or lesser number of) packs are in place, when the table is loaded and
ready for the game.
The crank H is now turned thus presenting at the four openings the four hands
in the receptacles numbered 1. The hands are then played and returned to their
proper receptacles and another turn of the crank forces them in and brings the
next series (2) of the receptacles into alignment with the openings and so on until
the entire series constituting one section have been played. By continuing the
rotation of the disk or support Fit is evident that the hands which have been
played now pass in succession to the opposing players and the duplication of the
play commences.
With this construction it will be seen that after the cards have been once dealt
and distributed they are securely held in place and only the single pack of cards
comprising four hands are exposed at one time. This absolutely prevents the
possibility of the packs or hands" getting mixed.
"
It will be seen that many variations in the construction may be made and yet
not depart from the spirit of the invention. Instead of the mutilated gear move-
ment by which the disk or support F is revolved step by step, a ratchet or other
well known device can he used. So also can other devices be substituted for the
ejecting and restoring devices shown by me and instead of pushing the cards out
at the sides of the table, they can be thrust through openings formed in the top.

page_text: It is evident that numerous slight changes might be made in the general form
and arrangement of parts herein shown and described without departing from the
spirit and scope of my invention and hence I would have it understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details of construction shown, but consider myself
at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and
scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what
I claim is
1. A duplicate whist table comprising a top, radial card receptacles mounted
to move below said top, means for moving said receptacles so as to successively
register them with openings adjacent to the four sides of the table and means for
pushing the cards in the receptacles through said openings.
2. The combination with a series of radial receptacles each adapted to contain
a hand, of a cover for these receptacles, said cover having four slots or openings
therein whereby to simultaneously disclose four hands, and means for simul-
taneously ejecting the four hands.
3. The combination with a series of radial receptacles each adapted to contain
a hand, of a cover for these receptacles, said cover having four slots or openings
therein, means for simultaneously ejecting the four hands and means for restoring
the cards to the receptacles.
4. The combination with a series of radial card receptacles, of means for closing
these receptacles having four slots or openings therein equidistant from each other,
and means for simultaneously ejecting the four hands.
5. A card table having a series of diametrically opposite openings in the sides
thereof, a rotary support, a series of receptacles carried by said support and
adapted to align with said openings as the support is turned and means for
simultaneously ejecting the four hands.
6. A card table having a series of openings in the sides, a support, a series of
receptacles for each opening, the said receptacles being carried by the support,
means for rotating the support whereby the corresponding receptacles of each
series are simultaneously presented at the several openings, and means for simul-
taneously ejecting the four hands.
7. A card table having a series of openings in its sides, series of movable re-
ceptacles each receptacle adapted to contain a "hand," means for moving the
receptacles whereby the corresponding receptacles of each series are simultaneously
presented at the several openings, and means for simultaneously ejecting the four
hands.
8. A card table comprising a pivoted support, a series of openings in the sides
of the table, receptacles carried by the support, gearing for rotating the support,
and means for simultaneously ejecting a plurality of hands.
9. A duplicate whist table comprising a top having apertures therein, card
receptacles mounted to move below said top, and means for ejecting the cards in
the receptacles opposite the openings in the top.
10. A game apparatus comprising a playing board or table having apertures
therein, and a card holder of circular form revoluble on the under side of the said
table, carrying a series of card retaining pockets arranged to pass in rear of said
apertures and presents the hands of cards of each pocket successively thereat, as
and for the purpose set forth.
11. A duplicate whist table comprising a stationary top forming a clear field
upon which the cards can be played and having four openings constituting passages
through which the cards can be passed into and also removed from receptacles
below said top, and a set of connected card receiving receptacles supported adjacent
to the table top and arranged for receiving the cards from the openings therein,
said set of card receiving receptacles being movable as a whole to shift each re-

page_text: ceptacle from one to another opening in the top, and to cause the several receptacles
to be simultaneously brought into register with the several openings.
12. In a game apparatus, a playing board or table having apertures in the
form of slits, and a revoluble card receptacle secured to the under side of the
table having a circular arrangement of card holders or pockets for the several
hands, which, as the same is revolved, causes the card holders to pass in rear of
the said apertures and successively register therewith, as and for the purpose set
forth.
13. A duplicate whist table comprising a top, radial card receptacles mounted to
move below said top, said receptacles adapted to register successively with openings
adjacent to the four sides of the table.
14. The combination with a series of radial receptacles each adapted to contain
a hand, of a cover for these receptacles, said cover having four slots or openings
whereby to simultaneously disclose four hands.
15. The combination with a series of radial card receptacles, of means for closing
these receptacles having four slots or openings therein equi-distant from each
other, substantially as set forth.
16. A duplicate whist table comprising a top having a series of openings therein,
a set of card receiving receptacles supported under the table top and movable to
allow the several receptacles to be simultaneously brought to register with the
openings in the table top.
Dated this 16th day of August 1898
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.