Improvements in the Manufacture of Playing Cards.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 4th Dec., - 1886.
Complete Accepted, 11th Feb., 1887
Improvements in the Manufacture of Playing Cards.
JAMES MCLAREN 27 Ann Street Glasgow Commercial Traveller do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To make Playing Cards in the shape of a Rhombus or Rhomboid, placing at or
near the top and bottom acute angles or corners of each card what is known as an
"Index pip" that is a pip (or pips) which by a number, letter or any other mark
denotes the value each Card bears in relation to other Cards in the pack, such Indices
being in common use in the manufacture of "Index" Playing Cards.
I would also round off or clip the points of the angles of each Card if found
convenient.
The essential feature of the novelty being in the shapes of the Cards before men-
tioned, I would claim protection for these shapes either with or without Indices of
any kind whatsoever.
The advantage claimed in the new shapes of Playing Cards are that each Card is
contracted to one point or angle or nearly so at the top and bottom of each Card, the
Indices denoting the value being concentrated at or near these points.
When the Cards are fanned or spread out in the hand for play, the upper part of
cach card with Index, stands out prominently, clearly and distinctly, so that the
Index is not so liable to be overlapped by the corner of the succeeding Card as is the
case with ordinary Index Playing Cards. For the same reason each Card can be
more easily seized and withdrawn from the hand, and the eyes are not so readily tired
and confused as with ordinary Index Playing Cards which have two upper corners
with an Index in each corner. Further when a pack of the new shapes of Playing
Cards is disordered, it can be more easily and quickly “squared up,” the four sides of
the Cards being equal.
The drawing shows the new and ordinary Index Playing Cards, by which it will be
seen that besides the liability to overlap the Index, the latter also, unless very carefully
fanned out, will show two Indices for the same Card at the same time which creates
confusion.
JAMES MCLAREN.

page_text: JAMES MCLAREN 27 Ann Street, City Glasgow Commercial Traveller do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
-
In carrying out this improvement. I would make Playing Cards in the shape of a
Rhombus, placing at or near the top & bottom acute angles or corners of each Card
what is known as an "Index Pip," that is a pip (or pips) which by a number, letter
or any other mark, denotes the value each Card bears in relation to other Cards in the
pack, such Indices being in common use in the manufacture of Index Playing Cards.
By adopting the shape beforementioned the Cards are contracted to one point (or
"Index placed at
angle or nearly so) at the top and bottom of each Card, with an
or near each of these points. These points by standing out more prominently than
any other portion of the Cards, concentrate the players attention on the "Index" which
is placed there. By these means the value of each Card can be instantly seen and a
Card can be selected seized and withdrawn with much greater rapidity than with
ordinary Playing Cards and with less liability to derange the hand" which will be
evident on referring to the drawings deposited with Provisional Specification.
By top and bottom (in relation to this specification) I mean the point held in the
hand when fanned out for play and the corresponding opposite point.
While preferring to adopt the shape beforementioned, I would include such other
variations of shapes (such as Rhomboid &c.) as could obviously be made embodying
the leading features of novelty claimed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and described in what manner the same is to be performed I will now proceed to state
my claims in reference thereto, which are
1st. For a Card with two corresponding opposite points which points are more
prominent than any other portions of the Card.
2nd. In conjunction with an "Index"placed at or near each of these points.
3rd. For a Card in the shape of a Rhombus with or without rounded off angles and
with or without. "Index" pips.
In witness whereof the said James McLaren hereunto set my seal this Third day
of December, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six.
SEAT
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