Improvements in Games.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Games.
We BRANCH HARRIS COLBY, Civil Engineer, of 2322 Albion Place and JOHN
SIBLEY WHITE, Banker, of 2104 Waverley Place both of the City of St. Louis,
State of Missouri, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this
nvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of our invention is, to provide for eliminating the factor of chance in a
game of cards, and making success depend solely upon the relative skill of the
players, and, to that end to provide for readily and accurately and without any
shuffling of the cards after the game has begun, assigning the same "hands" inter-
changeably to the opposing players, and so that when the play is finished each side
will have played the same hands.
I attain these objects with the aid of peculiarly-constructed boxes or cases, one of
which is shown in the accompanying drawing in which,
Figure 1 is a view in perspective, of the top cover of the box.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the body of the box.
Figure 3 is a perspective view, of the bottom cover of the box:
Figure 4 is a view showing the box with its top cover removed, bottom cover on,
and filled with cards arranged in hands as in actual play; and
Figure 5 a view of the box closed.
The same letters of reference denote the same parts in the several figures.
The improved box has a body and two covers. The body A, of the box has,
In one or more of its
preferably, four sides, a, a, a, a, but is open at both ends.
interior augles or corners is a pillar or post P, which serves the double purpose of
strengthening the body, and holding the cards or hands in superposition in the
manner hereinafter described.
The covers B and B', are preferably alike, and each of them, in practice, can be
applied to each end of the body, which, in such case, is adapted to receive them.
When the three parts of the box are put together, the edges of the covers preferably
nearly or quite meet along the broken line x, Figure 2.
In operation suppose the game to be played is whist, and A and B and C and D
are opposing partners. Take, say twelve packs of cards, (the exact number being
immaterial) thirteen counters of any sort, and let each player have one of the above
described boxes; the players take the usual positions assumed in playing whist;
the counters may be placed in the centre of the table; pack No. 1 of the card is
shuffled and dealt as in the usual manner; one suit is elected trumps for the entire
game; and play is then initiated as in the ordinary mode of playing whist, but with
the exception that the players, instead of laying their cards in the middle of the
table, place them immediately in front of their several positions; after each bas
played it will be seen who wins the trick, and one of the partners winning the trick
now takes a counter from the centre of the table and each player turns face down-
ward the card he last played; the winner of the trick then leads, and play continues
in this way until all of the cards of the first pack have been played; the counters
are now counted and the tricks won by the opposing sides are suitably noted; each
player now places the cards he has last played in his box, face upward, the bottom
cover being on, and the top cover off the box; and the other packs of cards are in
turn proceeded with in the same manner as with pack No. 1, the successive hands
being alternately crossed in each box to prevent mixing, and safely held in super-
position by the pillar or post P, as shown in Figure 4, until the entire number
(twelve in this case) of packs have been played; the top covers are now placed
upon the boxes respectively and each player passes his box to his right hand

page_text: opponent; A and B now have the hands previously held and played by C and D,
and C and D have the hands previously held and played by A and B; each player
now turns his box upside down, removes the (now) top cover, takes out the top
hand, and play proceeds as before, until all the bands have been played, except that
after playing each hand the cards may now be placed together and each pack laid
aside. The total number of tricks won by the opposing partners are now summed
and the winners thus determined.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said'
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. In a game box, a pillar or post to hold the different hands in superposition,
as described.
Second. A game-box having a body and two covers, said body being open at
both ends, and said covers being fitted to said box-ends, and. being removable,
substantially as described.
Third. In a game-box, the combination of three distinct parts, two of which.are
telescoping covers exactly alike and fitting upon opposite ends of the third part,
and said third part being a body open at both ends and having a pillar or post in an
interior angle or corner, substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.