US2555132A - Portable game playing device utilizing balls simulating playing cards - Google Patents

Description

May 29, 1951 J. J. HICKEY PORTABLE GAME PLAYING DEVICE UTILIZING BALLS SIMULATING PLAYING CARDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 21, 1947 INVEN TOR. JOHN J H/C/(A-"Y BY I ATTO/Q/Vi K5 May 29, 1951 J J, H|CKEY 2,555,132

PORTABLE GAME PLAYING DEVICE UTILIZING BALLS SIMULATING PLAYING CARDS Filed March 21, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN J. H/C/(EY ATTOQA/EKS M y 1951 J. J. HICKEY PORTABLE GAME PLAYING DEVICE UTILIZING BALLS SIMULATING PLAYING CARDS Filed March 21, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 9 WW W mm wr w t mm B Patented May 29, I951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE PORTABLE GAME PLAYING DEVICE UTILIZ- ING BALLS SIMULATING PLAYING CARDS John J. Hickey, Belleville, N. J.

Application March 21, 1947, Serial No. 736,150

issued August 28, 1945, covering improvements in the aforesaid machine, comprises an inclined plane disposed in a hollow body, the plane being formed of a winged central portion which when elevated together with the arcuate surface portion of the interior of the hollow body constitutes the shuffling chamber. When the movable section of the plane is brought into alignment with the other portions thereof, channels guide the mixed balls in serving the players with representations of cards, dealt face upward, or downward, dependent upon the direction in which the hollow body is tipped.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a portable machine for shuffling and dealing in simulated card games that will aid still further in the social rehabilitation of the less fortunate members of the community who have lost their ability to handle ordinary playing cards but who still may derive stimulation from the games.

Another object is to provide a machine that will shuffle or mix and deal or serve in any simulated card game requiring one or more regular packs of playing cards.

Still another object is to make simulated card games possible under conditions that would prohibit the use of the ordinary pasteboard playing cards.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a machine that will provide simulated card games based on the laws of chance without arousing suspicion among contestants.

Other objects will become apparent in the course of the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment thereof and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the attainment of these objectives, it has been found advisable to so form the machine that it will simulate the principal steps in card games,

n 4 Claims. (01. 273-148) that is, holding or containing and mixing or shuflling a large number of playing units; repeatedly allocating and dealing to the players small lots of the required predetermined numbers of mixed playing units; displaying or concealing the mixed and dealt units in partially completed and wholly completed hands; and returning the discarded playing units to storage or for further mixing as desired. In the accomplishment of these sequential steps, a semi-rotatable mixing component is disposed in a casing equipped with a ball displaying tray for exposed hands, and ball-concealing box pockets for unexposed hands. Balls marked to represent cards of the deck are,

1 inserted in the semi-rotatable mixing drum and tossed about therein by clockwise and counter clockwise movements thereof until mixed. An allocating chamber or device inserted in the mixing drum segregates the balls that are to be served. A counter-clockwise movement and contact of the drum with a stop, deposits the balls by centrifugal force on an adjustable runway to the ball-displaying tray for the exposed hand, to the ball-concealing box pockets for the unexposed hands, or back into the mixing drum as desired.

The device is particularly adapted for playing with balls such games as stud poker where all cards but the first round are dealt face up and the betting usually begins after the first round. However, a number of other games may be played by means of the same machine. The number of contestants may be increased or decreased as desired. With the exception of the relatively minor operation of mixing the balls, little physical effort of any kind is required.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the gameplaying device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal horizontal section through the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal horizontal section through the line i4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a top view of the balledisplaying tray enlarged.

Figure 7 is an end view of the ball-displaying tray shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged top view of the lever controlling the serving of the balls to the balldisplaying tray, ball-concealing box pockets, or back intothe mixing drum.

Figure 9 is a side view of the lever shown in Figure 8 with part of the casing removed.

Figure 10 is a view in perspective of the ball concealing box pocket.

The game playing machine comprises the casing II], the detachable ball-displaying tray II, and the ball-concealing box pockets I2.

The casing I supports the hollow semi-rotatable drum I3 (Fig. 3), and subsequently described associated means (Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 6) for serving the balls I4 to the ball-displaying tray II (Figs. 1, 6, and 11), in the ball-concealing box pockets I2 (Figs. 1, 3 and 10), or back into the drum I3, (Fig. 3). The casing may be constructed of any suitable material and of any shape with due regard to the rotation of the drum I3 (Fig. 3). In addition, it may be formed exclusively or partially of opaque materials as long as the secrecy of the unexposed hands is maintained.

The game is played with the balls I4 having an outside cover sufiiciently resilient to suppress noise and relatively heavy cores to insure both thorough mixing and free rolling. The surfaces of the balls are further designed for durable imprinting of the card indicia so that wear and tear caused by repeated mixings and dealing is minimized. Moreover, the balls may be colored to conform to the four suits of the usual deck of playing cards.

The drum I3 is disposed in the casing II] in such a manner that it can be rotated through substantially 180 by the handle I5 (Figs. 1 and 2) about the axis I6 (Fig. 3) and from either side of the casing. Thus, the operator may use either his left or right hand, for the most arduous part of the game. shuflling is accomplished by moving the drum back and forth several times through some 180. The drum I3 is formed of two circular discs, Figure 3, keyed to the axle I6 and separated from the sides of the casing and each other by spacing washers or similar means as required. The axle I6 is rotatably mounted through the spaced parallel members of the casing II] by any suitable bearing means Mia and ISb. The circumference of the drum is covered except for the opening I'I (Fig. 3) at one end of which an allocating chamber I8 (Fig. 3) is located. The allocatin chamber I8, disposed as shown between the rims of the drum, extends partially above the circumference thereof and comprises the outer compartment I9 and inner compartment 20 which are separated by a floor formed with the trap door 2|, opening into the outer compartment I9, and the base of the receptacle 22. The floor of this receptacle, as well as the corresponding surface of the trap door, is provided with channels formed by the inserts 23 (Fig. 3) and having sufficient space for entrapping one ball in each stall in the herein after described manner.

The machine illustrated provides one stall for each of five players but, of course, the number of stalls may be increased or decreased as desired. With the allocating chamber I8 in the down positiornshown dotted in Figure 3, the trapdoor 2i will open, under its own weight as well as the weight of the inserted balls or other means as desired, and the balls will tend to fall through into the outer chamber I9 but not more than one can pass into each of the five stalls because of the limited swing of the trapdoor 2|, that is, limited by an attached guide moving in the slot 40, the overhead surface portion 24, and the magnitude of the receptacle 22. Moving the drum counterclockwise, the rotatable trapdoor will close of its own weight and the remainder of the balls pressing to pass through the trapdoor 2|, will drop back into the mixing drum I3 for further mixing or shuffling against baffles (not shown) inserted within the drum against each other, and against the arcuate surface portion of the drum. The strip 39 between the rims of the drum will prevent the balls from rolling out the opening I'I. When the allocating chamber I8 reaches the high point, shown solid in Figure 3, the impact with the stop 25, together with the downward inclination of the channels, will force the five entrapped balls out of the stalls, across aligned channels on the top surface portion of the trapdoor ZI and even aligned channels on the hinged portion of the platform 26 for ultimate distribution as later described. It is the semi-rotation of the drum between the low and high or nadir and zenith positions that causes the gravitational swinging of the trap door 2|. At the nadir position, the trap door will be in the position shown by the dot and dash line of Figure 3. At the nadir position and durin at least the first of upward semi-rotation of the drum, one side of the trap door forms an inclined plane that will guide the balls into the stalls to the extent of the capacity thereof. During the upward cycle of the semirotation and above the90" point, the door will drop by gravity to impose the other side of the trap door as an inclined plane, at and slightly beyond the zenith position, to guide the balls out of the stalls for disposition as desired.

The disposition of the balls at this point will depend upon the desire of the operator who by means of the lever 21 (Fig. 9) controlling the position of the hinged portion of the platform 25 may so regulate the latter that the balls may be returned to the mixing drum I3 or to the hereinafter described ball-displaying tray I I (Figs. 1, 6 and 7), or the ball-concealing box pockets I2 (Figs. 1, 3 and 10). With the lever 21 (Figs. 8 and 9) set at the mix position, Figure 8. the outer end of the hinged portion of the platform 26 will be rotated to the upper dot dash position shown in Figure 3. With the allocating chamber I8 revolved to the zenith position shown in Figure 3, the balls in the channels of the outer compartment IE; will roll by gravity out of the chamber and will be held by the hinged end of the hinged portion of the platform 26 in a position or trough 3|. However, as soon as the drum is rotated clockwise, the balls in the trough 3I prevented from rolling down the platform 26 or back into the chamber I8 because of the oppositely inclined surfaces will fall downwardly by gravity. The rim of the drum I3 being open forwardly of the chamber I8 and under the position 3i in the zenith position of the chamber I8, the balls caught between the hinged end of the hinged portion of the platform and the chamber will fall through the drum opening. Since a too rapid clockwise rotation relative to the magnitude of the opening I! might deflect some of the bails out of the drum, a radially directed partition ltd is disposed on the drum between the axis I6 and the end of the opening I! adjacent the chamber I8. The outer portion I60 of the partition Ilid is hinged adjacent the axis in such a manner that it will rotate under gravity counterclockwise as illustrated in Figure 3 in the zenith position of the chamber to provide a guideway back into the drum for the balls falling through the opening I'I. With the chamber I8 in the down position shown by the dot dash lines in Figure 3,

the hinged portion Hie of the-partition will also by gravity and the coactionof the hinges form a straight angle as illustrated. With the lever 2" (Fig. 8) set at the upd'eal position, the channels 28 (Figs. 1 and 2) of the ramp or hinged portion of the platform 26 (Figs. 2 and 3 will be aligned with the channels 29 of the ball-dis playing tray 1 (Figs. 1, 3- and 6). With the lever 21 set at the down deal" position, Figure 8, the channels 28 (Fig. 1) of the ramp 2%, shown in lowest dotted position in Figure 3, will be aligned with the channels 3!] (Fig. 4-) to the ball concealing box-pockets [2.

The ball-displaying tray II is removably attachedto one end of the casing II] by the supports 32 inserted over the studs 33. As attached, the plane of the top surface portion or upper deck having the channels 29 aligned with the channels 28 of the ramp 26 is set at less than 90 to the casing in order that the balls will freely run out thereon. The first balls out will come in contact with the gate Strand the subsequently dealtballs will be aligned in grooves in back of these until the channels are filled as desired. By moving the gate 35 upward, the balls will be released through the transverse opening I la at the lower end, and will fall onto the lower deck or bottom member 36 of the tray ll either for storage purposes or for return to the mixing drum dependent upon whether or not the hinged parti tion 3'! actuated by the handle 38 is open or closed. When the handle 38 is in the down or closed position, the balls released by the gate 35v will be entrapped on the bottom member or base 36 of the tray. Thus, these entrapped balls will represent the used or discarded portion of the card deck. The remainder of the balls in the mixing drum, representing the unused portion of the deck, may continue to be served in the manner previously shown. By moving the handle 38 to the open position, the balls will fall back into the mixing drum after passing over the platform 34 (Figs. 3 and through the opening I? for further dealing as required. When not in use, the tray may be detached and stored in the cas- Where it is desired to serve or deal an unexposed hand, the movable platform lever 21 is moved to the down deal position whereupon the balls rolling down the channels 28 of the platform 26 will follow the aligned channels 30, Figure 4, leading to the five ball-concealing box pockets l2. The box pockets l2, two of which are located on either side of the casing and one in the front, are of tunnel shape adjustably attached to the casing so that an opening in the pocket will fit over a corresponding opening in the casing. The pocket is of such depth that the ball is visible only to the player who has removed the pocket. As in the case of the tray, when the boxpockets are not in use, they may be stored also in the casing.

The channels of the ball displaying tray may be numbered consecutively and the box pockets 6; fications without departing from the scope or intent of the present invention. All of such variations and modifications are to be included Within the scope of. the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable device for the mechanical playing of simulated card games wherein the cards are replaced by balls carrying card indicia, the device comprising a casing, a downwardly and outwardly directed platform secured to an-inner wall of the casing, the casing having an opening formed therein, the platform having at least one longitudinal channel formed thereon and adapted to guide the balls through said opening out of the casing; the apparatus further comprising a mixing drum for the balls rotatably disposed in the casing, the drum having an opening formed in the rim thereof; the mixing drum further comprising an allocating chamber disposed at one end of the drum opening, a floor disposed in the chamber substantially along the periphery of the drum dividing the chamber into an inner and an outer compartment, said floor being adapted to be moved into a position wherein it is substantially in alinement with said platform, the inner compartment communicating with the interior'of the drum and the outer compartment having an open end. adjacent the opening in the rim of the drum, atrap door hingedly disposed in the floor at theopen end of the outer compartment and opening therein, the floor having a channel formed thereon and adapted to be aligned with the channel on the platform.

2. A portable device for the mechanical playing of simulated card games wherein the cards are replaced by balls carrying card indicia, the device comprising a casing, a downwardly and outwardly directed platform secured to an inner wall of the casing, the casing having an opening formed therein, the platform having at least' one longitudinal channel formed thereon and adapted to guide the balls through said opening out of the casing; the apparatus further comprising a mixing drum for the balls rotatably disposed in the casing, the drum having sides extending parallel to the longitudinal center line of the platform and equally spaced on either side thereof, and a rim having an opening formed therein; the mixing drum further comprising an allocating chamber disposed at one end of the rim opening and extending above the periphery of the drum, a floor disposed in the allocating chamber dividing the chamber into an inner and an outer compartment substantially along the periphery of the drum, the inner compartment communicating with the interior of the drum and adapted to entrap at least one ball in the down position of the chamber, the floor having at least one channel on the side of the outer compartment adapted to be alined with the channel on the platform in a predetermined position of the drum, and a trap door hingedly disposed in the floor and adapted to pass at least one ball from the inner to the outer compartment when the chamber is in the down position.

3. A portable device for the mechanical playing of simulated card games wherein the cards are replaced by balls carrying card indicia, the device oomprising a casing, a platform secured to an inner wall of the casing, the casing having an opening formed therein, the platform being outwardly and downwardly inclined and adapted to display the balls emerging through said opening at the front of the casing, the back portion of the platform being hinged and adapted to rotate the outer edge of the hinged portion upwardly above the plane of the platform and downwardly below the plane thereof, the platform having at least one channel formed thereon and adapted to guide the balls out of the casing when the hinged portion is in the plane of the platform; the apparatus further comprising a mixing drum for the balls rotatably disposed in the casing, the drum having sides equally spaced on either side of the longitudinal center line of the platform, and a rim having an opening formed therein; the mixing drum further comprising an allocating chamber disposed at one end of the rim opening and extending thereabove, a floor disposed in the allocating chamber substantially along the rim of the drum, the floor dividing the chamber into an inner and outer compartment, the inner compartment being adapted to entrap at least one ball when the chamber is rotated to the down position, the outer compartment having an open end adapted to be alined with the hinged end of the platform when the hinged end is in the plane of the platform, the hinged end interrupting the connection between the outer compartment and the platform when the hinged end is in its upward and downward positions, said casing having a pocket formed therein for receiving balls from said hinged end in the downward position thereof, the floor having at least one longitudinal channel on the side of the outer compartment,

a trap door hingedly disposed in the floor at the open end of the outer compartment and adapted to pass the ball entrapped in the inner compartment to the outer compartment in the down position of the chamber, and means returning the ball from the hinged end of the platform in the up position thereof to the drum.

4. A portable device for the mechanical playing of simulated card games according to claim 3 in which the means returning the ball from the hinged end of the platform in the up position thereof to the drum comprises a partition radially disposed in the drum and aligned with the hinged end of the platform in the up position of the chamber, said device further comprising a trap door hingedly disposed in the inner end of the partition and opening outwardly toward the opening in the rim of the drum under gravity in the up position of the chamber.

JOHN J. HICKEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 724,470 Haskell Aug. '7, 1903 2,334,092 Hickey Nov. 9, 1943 2,334,093 Hickey Nov. 9, 1943 2,383,860 Hickey Aug. 28, 1945

Images