Improvements in Apparatus for Duplicate Whist and other Games of Cards.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Duplicate Whist and other
Games of Cards.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS JOHNSON, of 1406 F Street, Washington, in the District
of Columbia, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to apparatus for the separate segregation, identification
and preservation of the different individual hands in games of playing cards for
purposes of over play, being particularly but not necessarily adapted to the playing
and overplaying of cards in the game of duplicate whist.
Heretofore, in apparatus of this character much difficulty has been experienced
by reason of the imperfect action of the holders which have been provided to retain
the individual hands in separate packets; where elastic bands have been used for
that purpose upon the surface of the trays, the cards are liable to slip end wise out
of the retaining bands and this liability is largely increased with use as the bands
soon become permanently stretched and the rubber of which they are partly or
entirely composed constantly deteriorates; elastic bands or other springs which
have been used to retain the cards in separate packets also cause injury to the
edges and surface of the confined cards; it is desirable also as in these games
ordinarily a series of hands are played, that the upper and lower surfaces of the
different trays should not be uneven, so that when piled up, one top of another,
they will form a compact mass. Each tray should be distinctly marked (as is
generally done by giving to each a number of its own) and also in such a way as
to ensure the separate trays to be placed in the proper position both for the play
and over play.
Referring to the drawings wherein the same indicating letters and numerals
point out the same parts in each figure.
Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the apparatus showing the upper surface
thereof in which one compartment entirely encloses one hand, or packet of playing
cards, another compartment being shown from which a hand has been partially
removed, the remaining compartments being empty.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus with the upper cover removed showing
the upper interior of the bottom piece and the partitions and side walls which
form the four compartments.
A is the bottom plate provided with the semi-circular finger holes 1, 2, 3, 4, cut
out of the edges of each side midway between the partitions of the compartments.
B is the upper plate provided with rectangular openings 5, 6, 7, 8, interposed
between the bottom and upper plates are the partitions 9, 10, 11, 12, and the side
walls 13, 14, 15, 16; a line bisecting the rectangular openings of the upper plate B
coincides with a line bisecting the semi-circular opening in the bottom plate A;
said side walls where they project over the ends of the separate compartments
furnish stops which prevent the cards in the compartments from falling out. Each
tray should have a serial number which may be placed either on the bottom plate
or the upper plate as may be desired; the upper plate is provided with a star 17,
or other suitable device, the same being marked upon it near to one edge and also
the words "lead" 18, printed thereon near one of the compartments; in each set
of four trays this word "lead" will be found opposite different compartments with
reference to the indicating star 17 of such a series (which may be indefinitely

page_text: duplicated); tray No. 1 has the words opposite the compartment next upon the
left of the indicating star; tray No. 2 upon the second compartment therefrom;
tray No. 3 upon the third compartment and tray No. 4 upon the fourth
compartment.
I do not confine myself to any particular material in the manufacture of the
apparatus; the upper and lower plates may be of paste or card-board and both
they and the interposed partitions and side walls may be made of wood, celluloid
or sheet metal or of those or other materials in whole or in part, the essential
feature being preserved namely: the formation between the upper and lower
plates by means of the partitions and side walls of a series of consecutively marked
horizontal compartments into which the hands of cards to be segregated, identified,
and preserved for purposes of subsequent over-play can be readily placed where
they are loosely retained within the said compartments by the interposed partitions
and side walls the cards being held in a horizontal position by the upper plate and
prevented from falling out of the trays by the portion of the side walls which
partially close up the ends of said compartments and so that when the cards are
required for play or over play they may be readily removed, the finger boles in
the lower plate permitting the taking hold of the packet and bending its outer
edge upwards and withdrawing it through the rectangular opening in the edge of
the upper plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An apparatus for the segregation and identification of the different individual
hands of playing cards for the purpose of subsequent over play consisting of a
tray composed of a bottom plate and an upper plate with interposed partitions and
side walls dividing the space between said plates into a series of horizontal
compartments wholly closed upon their sides and inner ends and partially closed
at the edges of said tray by the said side walls, the cards being adapted for
removal through openings in the upper plate partially covering the several
underlying compartments, as and for the purpose stated, substantially as
described.
2. A tray for the purpose set forth consisting of the plate A having the semi-
circular recesses 1, 2, 3, 4, in its edges, the superimposed plate B, having the
rectangular openings 5, 6, 7, 8, with the described interposed partitions and side
walls forming a series of horizontal compartments closed at their sides and inner
ends, a portion of the side walls forming a partial closing of the outer end of said
compartments, substantially as described.
3. A tray for the purposes set forth consisting of a tray having a series of
compartments in the same partially closed at their tops, closed at their sides and
inner ends for holding cards within said partially enclosed compartments,
substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of March 1896
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.