US2961240A - Playing card receptacle and tray - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 22, 1960 A. H. ABLETT PLAYING CARD RECEPTACLE AND TRAY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 13, 1958 INVENTOR. ALLAN H. ABLETT BY JM ATTORNEY Nov. 22, 1-960 A. H. ABLETT 2,961,240

PLAYING CARD RECEPTACLE AND TRAY Filed Nov. 13, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALLAN H. ABLETT ATTORNEY Nov. 22, 1960 A. H. ABLETT 2,961,240

PLAYING CARD RECEPTACLE AND TRAY Filed Nov. 13, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 8 w 5 A I, 3 K E #l 4 J G m m Z I. 7 M 1 F m VA 0H H m G I N u 3 "W w M 6 l 7-2-1 7 Mm 7 in v y a B A 6 4 II E n a m H- 7 Q 1 3 r rl..| 1 a 2 l4 u q .3 5 .0. 5 Q 9 z 4 4 i 1 2 5 4x 3 J,- E \4 4 My 3 lu HP. [2 ll\ FIG 9 Q 46w-L United States Patent PLAYING CARD RECEPIACLE AND TRAY Allan H. Ablett, 129 NE. 80th Terrace, Miami, Fla.

Filed Nov. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 773,751

Claims. (Cl. 273-148) This invention relates to receptacles and is more particularly directed to a playing card receptacle which may e converted to a tray for playing of card games.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a playing card receptacle which normally houses playing cards, and which is readily converted into a card holding tray normally used in the card games such as canasta, samba and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a substantially rectangular shaped receptacle for storing playing cards with a cover which lifts upwardly away from the receptacle and then swings around to the bottom of the receptacle to form the pedestal for the receptacle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a unique and completely encased receptacle for playing cards which unfolds into card holding tray used for playing card games.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a combination playing card receptacle and pla ing tray which is simple and inexpensive in construction and may be readily converted from one use to the other.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combination playing card receptacle and tray constructed according to my invention and shown in its card storing position.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 with the cover in dotted lines indicating its lifted position preparatory to converting the device to a playing card tray.

Figure 4 is a side elevational View with the cover shown in its lifted position in solid lines and the dotted lines indicating the swinging of the cover in the sequence of steps in the converting of the device into a tray for playing cards.

Figure 5 is a similar view continuing the sequence of steps in converting the device from a playing card receptacle to a tray with the card holding trays swung downwardly and shown by dotted lines.

Figure 6 is a similar view with the cover now positioned below the trays and acting as a pedestal and the device ready to be used as a playing card tray.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view partially broken away,

Figure 10 is a front eleavtional view of the device when used as a tray.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers to my combination playing card receptacle and tray comprised essentially of a support member in the form of a wall 11 upon which a cover 12 is slidably mounted and a card holding tray pivotally secured on each side of the wall 11.

The wall 11 as well as the other parts to my device is made preferably of plastic although any other suitable materials may be used. The wall 11 is provided with a centrally disposed bore 13 extending through the top edge of the wall 11 and terminating a short distance from the lower edge. See Figures 2 and 3. At the top edge of the wall 11 about the bore 13 is a notched portion 14. Within the top portion of the bore 13 is a bushing 15 secured therein by a pin 16 extending in a bore 17 transversely to the bore 13. The outer end portion of the bore 17 is threaded to receive the threads of the pin 16 so that its forward end may be made to engage securely the side wall of the bushing 15 thereby securing the bushing 15, and preventing any movement of same in the bore 13.

On the opposite side of the bushing 15 there is a further bore 18 extending from the edge of the wall 11 to the bore 13 and communicating with a bore 22 in the bushing 15. The outer end of the bore 18 is threaded to receive a threaded plug 19 which acts as a stop for one end of a coil spring 20 positioned in the bore 18. The other end of the coil spring 21 bears on a slidable pin 21 having a pointed end portion or detent 23 which is received by the bore 22 in the bushing 15. The amount of pressure imparted to the pin 21 by the coil spring 20 may be adjusted according to the position of the threaded plug 19 in the bore 18.

Within the bore 13 there is slidably mounted a cover supporting rod 26 at whose lower end a collar 25 is secured to prevent the removal of the rod 26 from the bore 13. The rod 26 is provided with peripheral recesses 27 and 28 adjacent the lower and upper portion thereof, the recesses 27 and 28 intended to be engaged by the detent 23 for maintaining the rod 26 and the cover 12 which is secured to the top end of the rod 26 at a depressed or elevated position. When the rod 26 is in its depressed position. the cover 12 is housed and when elevated, the cover 12 is in position to be swung as is explained in detail hereinafter. Mounted on the rod 26 in contact relation with the lower surface of the cover 12 is a cap shaped locking member 29 secured thereon by a split lock ring 30. All four edges of the cover 12 are notched as at 31. The bottom portion of the wall 11 is provided with slots 32 and 33 extending inwardly of the bottom edge and are equidistant from a bore 34 which is in vertical alignment with but transverse to the bore 13. Extending through the bore 34 and bores 37 in stub plates 38 (see Figure 2) is a pivot pin 39 consisting of a conventional interengaging threaded bolt and sleeve thereby permitting the wall 11 to swing about the stub plates 38 with the pivot pin 39 as the center of rotation. The stub plates 38 are secured in space relation with each other by a pin 46 on which a sleeve 41 is mounted, the sleeve 41 being of the same dimension as the thickness of the wall 11 and extending between the stub plates 38. The pin 40 is in horizontal alignment with the pivot pin 39 so that upon swinging the support member or wall 11 from one extreme position to the other, the slots 32 and 33 will receive the sleeve 41 and limit the swinging movement of the wall 11 in that direction. I

Pivotally mounted to the lower edge of. each ofthe stub plates 38" by pins 45 is a card'ho'lding tray, bothof.

which are identical inv construction consisting of a rear wall 42-, side walls 43 and a bottom wall 4'4 inclined walls 38. The upper inner edges of the side walls 43 project upwardly to form lugs 46 which are received by the notched portions 31 in the cover 12 to prevent the card' holding trays from pivoting on the pivot pins 45 when the device has been converted into its card storing position as shown by Figure l. The front or exposed edges of the bottom walls 42 have arcuate slots 47 positioned thereon whose function is to receive the rim of the locking cap 29 to lock the card holding trays in position as best shown by Figures 6 and 7 when the device It has'been converted to its card playing position.

It can be seen from the above explanation that my combination playing card receptacle and tray can be used both as a storage receptacle for cards or as a tray for dispensing playing cards during the playing of card games, and also that it can be readily converted from one use to the other. Withthe device 10 in the position as shown by Figures 1 and 2, the device 10 becomes a storage receptacle for playing cards. To convert the device 10 to a tray for dispensing cards as shown by Figures 6 and 10, the cover 12 is grasped at the edges and lifted upwardly to cause the rod 26 to slide upwardly in the bore 13 until the detent 23 engages the recess 28 and the collar 25 engages the bushing 15. This position of the cover 12 pulled upwardly away from the device 10 is shown by the solidlines in Figure 4. "Ihen the cover 12 along with the support member 11 is swung about the pivot pin 39 in an arc of approximately 180 degrees. The cover 12 is now positioned directly below the trays and shown in Figure 4 by dotted lines and in Figure by solid lines. The trays which are in an upwardly extending position as shown in Figure 5 are made to swing downwardly on the pins 45 to assume the dotted line positions. Now downward pressure is applied on the device it to force the rod 26 to slide upwardly in the bore 13 of the support plate 11. The cover 12 slides upwardly until the rim of the locking cap 29'is received by the arcuate slots 47 on the edges of the rear wall 42 of the trays to lock the card holding trays in position yet permitting the device to be free torevolve about the rodZ. To return the device 10 to its card storing position, the reverse procedure described above is followed. 12 has been swung to its upper position and then slid downwardly toward the trays, the lugs 46 are received by the notch portions 31 and the trays are secured against pivotal movement. The cards that have been placed within the trays are stored therein and the receptacle 10 is put away until it is decided to play cards again.

7 What I claim as new is:

l. A combination playing card receptacle and dispenser comprising a support member, a pair of trays for containing playing cards having a rear wall portion and a rear wall support member, pivot means securing said rear wall support members and said first named support member at substantially their mid-portions for swinging movement of said support member in a plane substantially parallel to said rear wall support members, hinge means securing each of said rear wall portions with each of said rear wall support members, a cover member and means mounting said cover member on said first named support member whereby said cover member and said first named support member may be pivoted to form it is to be noted that when the cover' a pedestal for said trays" and said trays swung on said hinge means in the directioh of said pedestal to form a dispenser for said cards contained in said trays.

2. A combination playing card receptacle and dispenser comprising a support member, a stub plate memer positioned on each side of said support member, a pivot pin extending through said stub plate members and said support member at substantially their mid-portions for swinging movement of said support member, a pair of trays for containingv cards having a rear wall, hinge means securing said rear wall of each of said trays to said stub plate members whereby said trays may swing in an arc transversely to said support member, a cover, means slidably securing said cover to a top edge of said support member whereby at one position of said trays said cover engages said trays to form a container for said cards and upon the swinging of said trays and pivotal movement of said support member said cover becomes.

a pedestal for said playing card dispenser.

3. A combination playing card receptacle and dispenser comprising a support member and a stub plate member positioned on each side of said support member, a pivot pin extending through said support member and said stub plate members at substantially their mid-portion whereby said support member may swing through an arc in a plane parallel to said stub plate members, a pair of trays having side walls, a bottom wall and a rear wall, hinge means securing said rear wall of each of said trays to said stub plate members whereby said trays may swing in an arc transversely to said support member, said support member having a substantially centrally disposed bore extending through a top edge of said support member, a rod slidably mounted in said bore, a cover member secured to a free end of said rod whereby said cover member may be withdrawn in a direction away from said support member, a fixed pin extending between said stub plate members, a sleeve mounted on said fixed pin and extending between said stub plate members a distance substantially equal to the thickness of saidsupport member, a slot on said support member on each side of said pivot pin for receiving said flexed pin and limiting the swinging movement of said support member and said cover.

4. A combination playing card receptacle and dispenser comprising a support member, a stub plate member positioned on each side of said support member with all of their top edges lying substantially in a horizontal plane, a pivot pin extending through said' stub plate members and said support member at substantially their mid portion whereby said support member may swing through an arc in a plane parallel to said stub plate members, a fixed pin extending between said stub plate members in substantial horizontal alignment with said pivot pin, a sleeve mounted on said fixed pin and extending between said stub plates a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said support member. a pair of slots on said support member extending to said' top edge, said slots being equidistant from said pivot pin and receiving said fixed pin for limiting the swinging movement of said support member to substantally an arc of degrees, a pair of trays for containing playing cards having side walls, a bottom wall and a rear wall, hinge means securing a top edge of said rear wall to each of said stub plate members whereby said trays may swing in an arc transversely to said support member, said support member having a substantially centrally disposed bore extending through said top edge, a bushing mounted in said bore adjacent said top edge, a rod slidably mounted in said bore along said bushing, a cover secured to a free end of said rod, shoulder means secured to the other end of said rod for preventing said rod from leaving said bore, and a plurality of lugs extending outwardly of said side walls of said trays adjacent'said support mem- A ve her, said cover having a centrally disposed notch on each edge for receiving said lugs and locking said trays against swinging on said hinge means.

5. The structure as recited by claim 4 and locking means mounted on said rod adjacent said cover and slotted portions formed on the free edges of said rear Walls of said trays adapted to be received by said locking means for securing said trays against pivotal movement on said hinge means when said trays are in a dispensing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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