US3743294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bridge hand dealing system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-18
•
Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A bridge system including a sealed book of reproduced newspaper bridge columns; punched master cards chosen at random for successive play each containing dealing identification for one complete four-hand deal corresponding to one of the bridge column reported hands, an indication of any vulnerability among the original players, and page cross reference to the corresponding bridge column; playing cards symmetrically face code-marked along side margins for registration successively in superimposed position on a master card; a dealing unit for holding one master card and the deck face down with a mirror under one side margin for viewing code-marked dealing instruction for the lowermost playing card through the punched apertures of the master card; the dealing unit including an escapement slit for one card at a time dealt from the bottom of the deck to the hand indicated by the master card; the master card having alternative punched aperture positions for playing card code marks whereby the viewing of one, or the other, or both, or neither of the alternative aperture marks will indicate to which of the four individual hands the card should be dealt; the corresponding book page being unsealed for comparison after play is completed.
Inventors
- 👤 L Forster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:36
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F1/00; A63F1/06; A63F1/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A bridge system comprising a deck of visually coded playing cards, a book of numerous, interesting, previously-played bridge hands including description of bidding and play by experts, corresponding master cards each identifying one complete fourhand deal with reference to said deck of coded playing cards, a manual dealing unit adapted to hold one of said master cards and said deck of coded playing cards for manual dealing with visual code observation without revealing playing card suit or value, and a cross reference between each master card and the corresponding page of said book permitting comparison after bidding and play have been completed, said book of previously played bridge hands comprising a reproduction of newspaper bridge columns, said book having its pages sealed so that the pages corresponding to the master card cross references may be selectively unsealed and read one hand at a time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A bridge system comprising a deck of visually coded playing cards, a book of numerous, interesting, previously-played bridge hands including description of bidding and play by experts, corresponding master cards each identifying one complete fourhand deal with reference to said deck of coded playing cards, a manual dealing unit adapted to hold one of said master cards and said deck of coded playing cards for manual dealing with visual code observation without revealing playing card suit or value, and a cross reference between each master card and the corresponding page of said book permitting comparison after bidding and play have been completed, said book of previously played bridge hands comprising a reproduction of newspaper bridge columns, said book having its pages sealed so that the pages corresponding to the master card cross references may be selectively unsealed and read one hand at a time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a bridge system as set forth in claim 1, said sealed pages comprising a plurality of pages secured together at one edge, means adhering other normally free edges to each other except for a limited extent whereby the page number indicia may be viewed, and whereby the adhering means may be selectively broken at a selected page which corresponds to the cross reference indicated on the master card for a selected hand.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
147 words
A bridge system comprising a deck of visually coded playing cards, numerous master cards each identifying one complete four-hand deal with reference to said deck of coded playing cards, and a manual dealing unit adapted to hold one of said master cards and said deck of coded playing cards for manual visual dealing in accordance with observation of code marks through said master card without revealing playing card suit or value, said master card having punched apertures including two distinguishable alternative aperture locations so located relative to the code marks on the playing cards when both the master card and playing cards are held in the dealing unit that the playing card code marks are alternatively visible through one, or the other, or both, or neither of the apertures of the master card to identify to which of the four hands a playing card should be dealt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
A bridge system comprising a deck of visually coded playing cards, numerous master cards each identifying one complete four-hand deal with reference to said deck of coded playing cards, and a manual dealing unit adapted to hold one of said master cards and said deck of coded playing cards for manual visual dealing in accordance with observation of code marks through said master card without revealing playing card suit or value, said master card having punched apertures including two distinguishable alternative aperture locations so located relative to the code marks on the playing cards when both the master card and playing cards are held in the dealing unit that the playing card code marks are alternatively visible through one, or the other, or both, or neither of the apertures of the master card to identify to which of the four hands a playing card should be dealt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
148 words
A bridge system comprising a deck of visually face-coded playing cards, said face code identification being located symmetrically along opposite side margins of each playing card, numerous master cards each identifying one complete four-hand deal with reference to said deck of coded playing cards, and a manual dealing unit adapted to hold one of said master cards and said deck of coded playing cards for manual visual dealing in accordance with observation of code marks through said master card without revealing playing card suit or value, said dealing unit being adapted to hold a master card with punched apertures registering with successive code marks on the side margins of successive lowermost cards of a superimposed deck, including a mirror under one side margin of the deck and master card for viewing code mark identification of the successive lowermost playing cards through the punched apertures in the master card.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
A bridge system comprising a deck of visually face-coded playing cards, said face code identification being located symmetrically along opposite side margins of each playing card, numerous master cards each identifying one complete four-hand deal with reference to said deck of coded playing cards, and a manual dealing unit adapted to hold one of said master cards and said deck of coded playing cards for manual visual dealing in accordance with observation of code marks through said master card without revealing playing card suit or value, said dealing unit being adapted to hold a master card with punched apertures registering with successive code marks on the side margins of successive lowermost cards of a superimposed deck, including a mirror under one side margin of the deck and master card for viewing code mark identification of the successive lowermost playing cards through the punched apertures in the master card.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a bridge system as set forth in claim 4, the bottom of said dealing unit being recesSed to accommodate a single master card of substantially narrower width than the deck and provided with an opening to accommodate finger engagement of the lowermost playing card in dealing from the bottom of the deck.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a bridge system employing a master card and playing cards as in claim 3, said deck of playing cards comprising 52 different playing cards having an identification code mark lines occupying 52 distinct positions spaced longitudinally along the side of the playing cards for selective viewing through the punch apertures of said master card.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a bridge system as set forth in claim 6, said punch apertures in said master card having a spacing and size corresponding to said identification lines and such that adjacent punches to permit viewing of adjacent code line positions eliminates any intermediate web between said adjacent punch apertures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
124 words
A bridge system comprising; a deck of coded playing cards, numerous master cards identifying numerous different complete four hand deals with reference to said deck of coded playing cards, and a dealing unit adapted to coordinate said master and coded playing cards in effecting the dealing of respective identified hands, said master cards including selectively punched hole patterns produced with standard data recording key punch card hole spacing, having a pitch in the order of 11 to 12 spaces per inch, and said coded playing cards having a code system located in positions not otherwise occupied with interfering playing card markings coordinated with said standard hole spacing adapted to accommodate a selective system of hand distribution in accordance with said master card hand identification.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
124 words
A bridge system comprising; a deck of coded playing cards, numerous master cards identifying numerous different complete four hand deals with reference to said deck of coded playing cards, and a dealing unit adapted to coordinate said master and coded playing cards in effecting the dealing of respective identified hands, said master cards including selectively punched hole patterns produced with standard data recording key punch card hole spacing, having a pitch in the order of 11 to 12 spaces per inch, and said coded playing cards having a code system located in positions not otherwise occupied with interfering playing card markings coordinated with said standard hole spacing adapted to accommodate a selective system of hand distribution in accordance with said master card hand identification.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
158 words
A bridge system comprising; a deck of coded playing cards, numerous master cards identifying numerous different complete four-hand deals with reference to said deck of coded playing cards, and a dealing unit adapted to coordinate said master and coded playing cards in effecting the dealing of respective identified hands, said master cards including selectively punched hole patterns produced with standard data recording key punch card hole spacing, having a pitch in the order of 11 to 12 spaces per inch, said coded playing cards having a code system located in positions not otherwise occupied with interfering playing card markings coordinated with said standard hole spacing adapted to accommodate a selective system of hand distribution in accordance with said master card hand identification and a page numbered booklet reporting an analysis of bidding and play for hands identified in said master cards, each master card including page number identification for cross reference to the corresponding analysis in said booklet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
158 words
A bridge system comprising; a deck of coded playing cards, numerous master cards identifying numerous different complete four-hand deals with reference to said deck of coded playing cards, and a dealing unit adapted to coordinate said master and coded playing cards in effecting the dealing of respective identified hands, said master cards including selectively punched hole patterns produced with standard data recording key punch card hole spacing, having a pitch in the order of 11 to 12 spaces per inch, said coded playing cards having a code system located in positions not otherwise occupied with interfering playing card markings coordinated with said standard hole spacing adapted to accommodate a selective system of hand distribution in accordance with said master card hand identification and a page numbered booklet reporting an analysis of bidding and play for hands identified in said master cards, each master card including page number identification for cross reference to the corresponding analysis in said booklet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
In combination for use in a bridge system as set forth in claim 8 a booklet of published reports analyzing the bidding and play with respect to said hands, said master cards including page number identification for cross reference to said booklet as well as punched hand identification for dealing purposes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a bridge system for identifying numerous different complete four-hand deals with reference to a deck of coded playing cards having a code system located in positions not otherwise occupied with interfering playing card markings and a dealing unit for holding said deck, the improvement comprising numerous punched master cards identifying numerous different complete four-hand deals adapted for use in said dealing unit with said deck of coded playing cards superimposed in coordinated juxtaposition, said master cards including selectively punched hole patterns produced with standard data recording key punch card hole spacing having a pitch in the order of 11 to 12 spaces per inch.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a bridge system for identifying numerous different complete four-hand deals with reference to a deck of coded playing cards having a code system located in positions not otherwise occupied with interfering playing card markings and a dealing unit for holding said deck, the improvement comprising numerous punched master cards identifying numerous different complete four-hand deals adapted for use in said dealing unit with said deck of coded playing cards superimposed in coordinated juxtaposition, said master cards including selectively punched hole patterns produced with standard data recording key punch card hole spacing having a pitch in the order of 11 to 12 spaces per inch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 11 wherein a fractional portion of a single selectively punched standard data recording card is adapted to identify each complete four-hand deal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 12 wherein sAid hole pattern for each four-hand deal is selectively punched from a rectangular 4 X 26 potential hole pattern.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 12 wherein a plurality of complete four-hand deals are identified in a single selectively punched standard data recording card, each fractional portion identifying a single four-hand deal being separable for use in the dealing unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 11 further characterized by hole spacing having a pitch of approximately 0.087 inch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 11 wherein said four-hand deals correspond to previously played bridge hands reported in a page numbered reference, and wherein said master cards include punched identification of page numbers and of vulnerability, if any, with respect to the hands as previously played and reported.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 11 wherein said punch card holes are round and have a diameter equal to approximately one-half of the hole spacing pitch.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a bridge system for holding a deck of coded playing cards in coordinated juxtaposition with any of numerous punched master cards identifying different complete four-hand deals, the improvement comprising a dealing unit having a master card recess for holding a single punched master card which is a fraction of the size of the playing card, said dealing unit being adapted to hold said deck of playing cards face down with one side margin of the lowermost card superimposed over said master card, and a mirror in said dealing unit spaced substantially below said master card for viewing hand identifying code marks of the lowermost playing card through the punched holes of said master card.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a bridge system for holding a deck of coded playing cards in coordinated juxtaposition with any of numerous punched master cards identifying different complete four-hand deals, the improvement comprising a dealing unit having a master card recess for holding a single punched master card which is a fraction of the size of the playing card, said dealing unit being adapted to hold said deck of playing cards face down with one side margin of the lowermost card superimposed over said master card, and a mirror in said dealing unit spaced substantially below said master card for viewing hand identifying code marks of the lowermost playing card through the punched holes of said master card.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 18 wherein the extension of said mirror and walls of said dealing unit substantially confine the mirror view to hand identifying code marks within a rectangular 4 X 26 potential hole pattern.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a bridge system for code identification of playing cards in a dealing unit in coordinated juxtaposition with any of numerous punched master cards identifying different complete four-hand deals, the improvement comprising a deck of 52 different playing cards each identified by face code marks spaced along each of the side margins longitudinally in 26 distinct positions and laterally in two distinct positions for registration with different of the 26 X 4 potential punched holes for each playing card.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a bridge system for code identification of playing cards in a dealing unit in coordinated juxtaposition with any of numerous punched master cards identifying different complete four-hand deals, the improvement comprising a deck of 52 different playing cards each identified by face code marks spaced along each of the side margins longitudinally in 26 distinct positions and laterally in two distinct positions for registration with different of the 26 X 4 potential punched holes for each playing card.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 20 wherein each side margin of each playing card is symmetrically marked in a distinct relative position for registration with two of the potential 104 punched master card holes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 21 wherein a reference centerline on each master card extends longitudinally of said 26 X 4 hole pattern and each of said two holes is on a different side thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |