US1959636A - Game scoring device - Google Patents

Description

May 22, 1934. w 1 OB|D|NE 1,959,636

GAME SCORING DEVICE Filed June 2, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l v l..{| V2 PREMIUMS= NMI/LA Vw.. 57/ EncH NoTDouBLeD 50 50 TRrcKOx/Er? WHEN I' M100 200 45 40 45 CONTRHCT REDOUBLED 200 400 l INVENTR NL LMIREQMEIDINE- N PENALTIES /4 a@ i @wm IF 15T. UNDRTRICK DOUBLED QTT GENE YS.A

May 22, 1934. w. J. oBlDlNE GAME SCORING DEVICE Filed June 2, 1931 2 Sheets-She@a 2 INVENTUQ NL Imm E QTDBIDINE Q TTURNEY 5 Patented May 2.2, 1934 PATENT OFFICE GAME SCORING DEVICE Wladimire J. Obidine,

Los Angeles, Calif., as-

signor of one-half to Wesley Benton Tourtellotte, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 2, 1931, Serial No. 541,645

10 Claims.

My invention has to do with a device for mechanically keeping score in a game, particularly adapted for card games and games in which points are not only given for winning a certain number of tricks but in which bonuses and increased values are given through such features as the players agreeing to change the value of cards or tricks won.

My device also pertains to game scoring, such as card games, in which penalties are enacted whereby the score of players is lessened through being subject to such penalties.

An object, therefore, of my invention, is a simplified scoring device which, for instance, by a player turning the device to indicate a suit of cards and then the number of tricks bid or won in such suit, then, by my device the score may be read directly.

Another feature of my invention relates to a tabulation in which the score is doubled and redoubled, this also having a movable device which may be shifted to indicate the different number of tricks bid or won and showing directly the score for the doubled and redoubled value of the tricks.

A further feature and object of my invention is in a game scoring device suitable for cards having a device with a display opening through which may be depicted the suit of cards by a symbol and the number of honors won, and in connection with a table having series of numbers indicating scores under these different circumstances a movable device is adapted to expose the score combining the honors for Various tricks bid or won and, in addition, a doubling or redoubling of the value.

Another and additional object and feature is an arrangement by which the device may expose, for instance, as applied to contract bridge, whether the players winning are vulnerable or non-wilnerable, and giving the score accordingly.

A still further object and feature of my invention is the use of a holder or container having a longitudinal slot through which the numbers which are tabulated on a roll or an endless belt or chart may be exposed, and in connection with this slot for exposing the scores on the chart there are also openings or windows for exposing the symbols of the different suits of the cards, the honors, and if the game requires different Values for a non-vulnerable or vulnerable hand, a third Window to indicate such features. Slidably mounted on the container I employ a registering device also preferably complementary therewith to be registered with indicia showing (Cl. 23S-87) the number of tricks bid or won, and in connection with this, indicia to indicate doubled and redoubled. The slidable device may then be moved on the container to position this at the proper number of tricks and to expose through the slot and the window of the device the correct score, taking into consideration all of the factors as the suit of cards, the honors, and the vulnerability feature.

Another detailed feature of my invention relates to an arrangement for obscuring the longitudinal slot so that only the single score will be exposed.

Other detailed features of my invention relate to an arrangement for rotating the chart step by step and also causing a hesitation of the slidable indicating device having the window to align this with the proper columns on the chart, this chart being arranged with vertical columns and horizontal rows of numerals.

My scoring device is designed to take care of substantially all of the scoring features which require computation but, however, in certain games it is necessary to add certain bonuses or premiums or to subtract penalties. In order that these may be clearly before the players the rules of the game in these respects may be inscribed on the container.

My invention provides for a construction using different types of charts with the scores arranged in a different manner. In one type for contract bridge the non-vulnerable or vulnerable feature is indicated directly on the chart and exposed through a window and the slidable score indicator shows this score value directly.

In another form of my invention the chart gives the different suits, the honor values, and the slidable score indicating device having the window is shiftable transversely to give the score in accordance with whether the player is vulnerable or non-vulnerable.

Another detailed feature of my invention provides for a shiftable magnifying glass which will magnify the numerals on the chart.

Another detailed feature relates to the window obscuring device which is formed of a coiled spring having coils at opposite ends and connected to the movable score indicator, the spring covering the slot in the container.

My invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

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Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a detailed section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2 showing the mounting for the magnifying lens; u

Fig. 7 illustrates a portion of a suitable chart;

Fig. 8 indicates certain rules which are to be printed o n the case or the container of the device; Y

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modied construction of my invention; Y

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the lnevlO-l() of Fig. 9 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section on the line 11--11 of Fig. 9 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 12 is a detailed transverse section on the line 12--12 of Fig. 9 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 13 is a detailed enlargement of one en of the device showing the coiled slot obscuring curtain.

Reference is first hadY to the construction of Figs` l to 6, inclusive. In this arrangement I utilize a container 11 which has a cylindrical shell 12. This shell has a longitudinal groove 13 on one side extending from approximately one end to the other with a series of indentations 14 in the bottom of the groove. There is also, preferably directly opposite the groove, a longitudinal slot 15, this preferably having beveled edges 16, and at the end there are three windows 17, 18, and 19, each of these having a beveled surface 20. The cylindrical shell 12 terminates at 21 at 'one end and 22 at the opposite end and inside has a series of small sockets 23, these being arranged in a circle. 'A plug 24 is tted in one end, this being at the end 21, this having a shoulder 25 abutting against the end of the cylinder, the cylinder thus being tightly secured to the plug. This plug has, preferably, a cylindrical opening 26 therethrough.Y

For purposes of description, the cylinder 12'is designated as being relatively stationary and within this there is mounted a rotatable and cylindrical core 27, ths core having an inner end 28 abutting against the plug 24 and having a shoulder 29 at the opposite end abutting against the end 22 of the cylinder l2. The core has a knurled surface 30 at the outer end'portion, this being to facilitate rotating the core. On the surface of thiscore there is a chart 31, this preferably being formed of paper and secured to the core. The core is also provided with a socket 32 with a radial perforation 33 leading therefrom and in this socket there is tted a slidable nub 34 having a head 35 against which bears a compressi on spring 36, this extending across the interiorof the core and the nub engaging in the lsockets 23 to give Va hesitation 'in rotating the Y collar while allowing sliding movement thereof.

This collar is provided with an upper window or opening 42 for locating the device longitudinally, this having a small pointer Y43.V A second window 44 registers with the slot 15 in the shell 1'2. In

having side edges 46 which are engaged by the rim 39 of the collar and thus allow sliding of the lens around the sleeve so that thelens may be positioned over the window 44 to magnify the numerals of the score on the chart but may be removed to allow direct vision thereof.

. In order that the score indicating collar may be properly centered, Iv provide a series-of indicia 47 on the outside of the shell, these extending longitudinally and parallel to the slot l5. This indicia is divided into groups, there being a series `of numerals 43 indicated as 1 to 7, which indicate the'number of tricks bid or won, and at one side of the numeral thereis the letter D designated 49 indicating va'double of the score and at the opposite side an R 50 indicating a redouble. This series of indicia are provided with pointers 51 to register with theV pointer 43 on. the slidable collar. VIn constructing my invention I arrange each group of the insignia for each trick number to be of diierent colors.

In order that the scoring device may be readily carried in a pocket,- a iinger 52 is secured to the collar and may be utilized to grip a garment to carry the score device in ones pocket.

As in scoring gaines it is convenient to have a pencil, I employ a thiinble 53 having a head 54 on the outside and in its thimble a pencil 55 may be secured, the pencil thus fitting inthe center of the hollow core 27. Y

Referring' to the chart in Fig. 7, this is illustrated as having a series of vertical columns 56 and a series of horizontal rows 57. The extreme left column 58 has indicia 59 showing the diiTerent suits in cards, such as clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades, and another series 60 marked with the letters NTV and indicating no trump. An honor column 6l adjacent thereto indicates the honors, these being grouped for each suit for winning of zero honors, 100, 150, this being according to the rules ofthe game. Y

A column 62 is marked with a series of letters, these being NVand Vvindicating non-vulnerable and vulnerable, respectively. The remaining columns of the chart may be designated as the score columns 63 and these have the scores in numerals arranged in horizontal lines for tricks bid or won for the single value of the tricks, the doubled and the redoubled values, and` taking into consideration also the honorsandthe vulnerable cr nonvulnerable features. These columns are arranged to align with the indicia '47 on the outside'of the shell when the core is rotated. Thus the single value of the tricks will be under the respective numerals 48 designated from 1 to 7. The vdoubled and redoubled values as relates to each-trick will be under the indicia 49 represented by D and 50 represented by RQ In describing 'the operation of mykd'evice the 'window 17 maybe designated as'thesuit window, the window 18as the honor, and the window 19 as the vulnerability, Thus 'when the core is rotatedthrough' the medium of the knurled end' 30 the chart may 'be positioned to indicate the suit or no trump in which the hand was won, and in the instance illustrated this was'in the suit'of hearts and this showsthrough the window V17. The honors are exposed through the window 18 and in this instance there were no honors. The vulnerability window 19 exposes the 'vulnerable or non-vulnerable features and in this instance discloses the vulnerable; According to the rules of the game, therefore, for a single trick bid or won the score is Y30,`the doubled value *is 160, and the redoubled value 320. The score may thus be iro computed for each number of tricks bid or won, that is, for the contract made, taking into consideration the honors and the vulnerability. Therefore, to obtain the correct score on the nish of the play of a hand the scoring sleeve is slid longitudinally of the shell until the numeral designating the specific tricks shows through the window 42 and the pointer 43 on the sleeve is aligned with the pointer 51 on the shell in accordance with whether the score is single, doubled, or redoubled, and a reading of the score may be obtained directly through the score window 44. In the instance given in Fig. 1, the number of tricks was four single and the score for the instance given was 120. In order to make the device small and compact it is desirable to have the numerals on the chart quite small; the magnifying glass may be either shifted or left permanently over the window 44 and thus magnify the numbers.

The indentations 14 in the groove 13 are so positioned as to align with the vertical columns of the score on the score card so that when the indicator sleeve is moved longitudinally on the shell the spring stud 41 entering these indentations will cause a slight resistance and thereby correctly align the sleeve with the vertical columns. The series of sockets 23 arranged annularly at the end of the sleeve and engaged by the spring pressed nub 34 are arranged to correspond one socket to each horizontal line or row of numerals. Therefore, in rotating the core in the shell there is a slight resistance when each line registers with the longitudinal slot 15.

In Fig. 8, I indicate certain rules of the game which cannot have their values calculated in the calculating portion of the scoring device. These may be arranged in any suitable manner, preferably on both sides of the longitudinal groove 13. In this there is a statement 64, this being the rubber bonus and in accordance with the rules of contract bridge gives 500 points for winning a three game rubber and 700 points for winning a two game rubber. Another statement is the premiums for each trick over the contract indicating the columns non-vulnerable and vulnerable when not doubled, doubled, and redoubled. Another statement 66 gives the penalties when not doubled for the rst under trick and subsequent under tricks and the penalties Vif doubled for the first, second, third, fourth, and subsequent under tricks. These statements of rules of the game are printed on both my types of construction.

In the construction of Figs. 10 through 13, I illustrate a scoring device suitable for placing on a table or building into a table as an integral construction of a card table. In this I have a container or case 71 having a base 72, curved sides 73, top 74, and ends 75. This construction is also preferably provided with a tilting cover '76, this having a raised portion '77 on the under side of which the rules giving the rubber bonuses, the premiums, and the penalties are printed. In this construction the top is provided with a longitudinal slot '78 and at'the end there are windows '19 to indicate the suit, there being a center and two lateral windows shown. An honor window is also placed at the end, the center window of the suit and the honor window being in alignment with the score exposing slot '78. Underneath this slot there are a pair of guide tracks 81, these having a longitudinal groove 82. There are two rolls or drums 83 and 84, each of these being journaled in suitable journals 85 on the ends of the container. These drums are provided with sprocket wheels 36 and one of the drums is provided with a driving disk 87 having a knurled periphery 88, this extending upwardly through a transverse slot 89 in the top of the case 71. An endless belt 90 passes over these drums and has perforations to be engaged by the sprocket teeth, this belt having a chart thereon. Therefore, the ringer mayl be used to turn the disk 87, thus the driving roller 83, the roller 84 being driven through the medium of the moving chart. The upper run of this chart passes directly underneath the slot 78 and the windows 79 and 80. A scoring slide assembly designated 91 is utilized to correctly obtain the score. This has a bottom plate 92 which rests on the top of the case, this plate being shaped to have a pointer end 93. This plate is provided with an opening 94 with a depending flange 95. Such ange has a sliding t against the edges of the slot 78 and extends slightly into the case below the material forming the top. On this plate there are indicia 96, one indicating NV for non-vulnerable and Vul for vulnerable. SlidablyY mounted on the bottom plate there is a shiftable top plate 97, this being held thereon by means of slots 98 and pins 99 with heads. Thus the plate 97 may be slid transversely of the plate 92. This top plate has a score indicating window 100 and a vulnerability indicating window 101; the score indicating window 100 exposing numbers on the chart below the slot '78 and the vulnerability indicating window 101 disclosing either the NV or the Vul of the indicia 96.

A curtain designated generally 102 employs two ribbons 103 of spring metal, these being arranged into a tight coil at the ends 104. Such ends are accommodated in cross receptacles 105 having an end piece 106 secured tothe end of the case or container 71. Each of these ribbons has an end 107 secured to the depending iiange 95 of the plate 92 so that in sliding the plate the curtain is pulled out of one coil and on account of its resilient nature and spiral coiling it coils up at the other end. Therefore, the curtain obscures all of the chart which is immediately below the slot 78 except that exposed through the opening 94 in the scoring slide. As the curtain is guided in the longitudinal grooves in the guide tracks 81 this curtain cannot twist. Moreover, the receptacle 105 is provided with end pieces 103.

On the top 74 of the case or container there is a series of indicia 1.09, these being arranged in groups 110, each group having a numeral 111 designating the tricks bid or won and on one side of the numeral there is the letter D indicated at 112 and at the opposite side the letter R indicated at 113, these designating doubling and redoubling of the score. The indicia is arranged with a series of pointer corners 114 intended for alignment with the pointer end 93 of the scoring slide.

With this construction, as the chart is made larger than in the contruction of Figs. 1 through 4, the horizontal rows of numbers can be spaced farther apart. With this device the column having the designations NV and V is omitted, this being taken care of by the shiftable top plate 97 having the window 101 for indicating vulnerabilities. Therefore, the chart is arranged with two horizontal rows indicated at 115 of the score numbers being arranged close together so that these two may be exposed through the slot '78, there being a fair sized space 116 between the consecutive pairs of rows of numbers. This allows a personoperating the device to readily center the proper'horizontal row of numbers in reference tov the slot 78. It is convenient to have the window 79 for exposing the suit to be made in three parts so that the operator may readily detect changing from one suit to the other.

In order that the device may be utilized for storing score cards I provide an opening 117 in the endI walls adjacent the bottom 72, and above this opening there may be a horizontal partition 118, the score cards being inserted through this opening and resting on the base 72. The device is provided with small legs or nubs 119 to support thecase or container on a table.

In the specification and claims it is to be understood that the various terms used, such as suits, honors, vulnerable, non-vulnerable, tricks, hand, penalties, and premiums, are to be interpreted in accordance with the standard rules of contract and auction bridge at the present date.

While I have illustrated. my invention and chart asy particularly adapted for contract bridge scoring it willl be apparent that the same type of device may be readily used for auction bridge by changingthe chart and the score on the chart accordingly. When used for auction bridge the suit symbol on the chart will be exposed through the window, the honor values for the different suits will be exposed through another window and the chart isarranged with vertical columns and horizontal rows of numbers, the columns being arranged in groups of three, giving the single, doubled, and redoubled values of the tricks fromone to the maximum number and, hence,

' on the relative movement of the chart and the score indicating device the score may be read.

It will also be apparent that my invention may be adapted for keeping score in other types of card games in which computations are necessary to arrive at the score, the changesr necessary being governed by the rules of the particular game and the scoring values1 Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim;

l. In a game scoring device, a case having a longitudinal slot, a movably mounted chart in w the case having indicia thereon for exposure through the slot, a score indicating device slidably mounted and having a divided curtain connected thereto, said curtain being formed of ribbon-like resilient material with a coil at each i end and positioned below the slot, thedivided curtain being adapted to expose one indicium adjacent the score indicator and to cover all of the other indicia below the slot.

2. In a game scoring device as claimed in claim l, the score indicating: device having a slidable plate with an opening thereon, such plate when shifting aligning the opening with one indicium on the chart and directly below said slot.

3. In a game scoring device, a case having a longitudinal slot for exposure of a chart, numerals onV the outside of the case adjacent they slot for the number of tricks bid or won from the minimum to the maximum number possible, and indicia adjacent each numeral to indicate a doubled or redoubled value, a scoring slide guided along the slot a-ndY having a plate shi'itable transversely of said slide and having a window,v and indicia indicating vulnerable or non-vulnerable.

4f. In a game scoring device, a case having a longitudinal slot, a score indicating devif slidable thereon and having a transversely movable plate with a window, said window being adapted to expose one of a plurality of numerals exposed in transverse relation to the slot, the plate having a second window, and the score indicating device having symbols under suchr window to Vindicate vulnerable or non-vulnerable features of the score.

5. In a game scoring device, the combination of a case having a. longitudinal slot and a plurality of windows at one end of the slot together with a chart movably mounted in the case, said chart having a vertical column giving suits of cards, a second vertical column giving the honors, a third vertical column giving vulnerable and non-vulnerable features of the score, together Awith a plurality of vertical columns of numerals giving the score for various tricks bid or won for simple tricks and doubled and redoubled values thereof, said symbols being ex-.

posed through the windows and the numerals through the slot, the numerals being arranged in horizontal rows and the slot being sufficiently wide to expose tworows, the adjacent rows of numerals indicating different scores for vulnerable or non-vulnerable, and a score indicating device having a movable element to expose only one of the numerals in a vertical and a horizontal row.

6. In a game scoring device, a case having a longitudinal slot, a movable mounted chart in the case having indicia thereon for exposure through the slot, a score indicating device slid# ably mounted in regard to the slot, a divided curtain connected thereto, a receptacle at each end of the slot for the curtain, said curtain being formed ci ribbon-like resilient material with a coil in each receptacle, the divided curtain being adapted toV expose one indicium adjacent the score indicator and to cover all the other indicia below the slot and to move with the score indicator, the ends of the ribbon ceiling and uncoiling in eachreceptacle.

'7. In a game scoring device asclaimed in claim 6, the score indicating device having a plate with an opening therein and a transversely slidable plate with a plurality of windows, the score indicating platehaving the words Vulnerable and Invulnerable exposed through one window and the said slot exposing two horizontal rows of numerals, the'second window of the shiftable plate being adapted to expose a numeral in either one of said rows.

8. In a game scoring device, a case having a longitudinal slot, a chart movable in the case and having vertical columns and horizontal rows of numerals giving a score, a score indicating device having a plate with an opening therein,y said plate being slidable inthe slot, the plate having the words Vulnerable and thereon, and a transversely slidable plate mounted on the plate of the score indicating device, the slidable plate having two windows, one window to expose either of the words Vulnerable or Invulnerable, andthe other window to expose one of two numbers in a vertical column below the slot.

9.V In a game scoring device as claimed .in claiml 8, the case having indicia thereon giving the number of tricks from one to the maximum, and ononeV side of each numeral. indicia for doubled and on the other side indicia for redoubled values, the chart having vertical columns arranged in groups of three giving the score for tricks and for the doubled and redoubled value,

Invulnerable j iro dicia thereon, a transversely slidable plate mounted on the plate of the score indicator and having a plurality of Windows, one window beingv adapted to expose any one of the indicia on the score indicating plate, and the other window being adapted to expose one or more numerals in a vertical row on the chart through the said slot.

WLADIMIRE J. OBIDINE.

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