US1921673A - Scoring device for contract bridge - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 8, 1933. H HEERlNG 1,921,673

SCORING DEVICE FOR CONTRACT BRIDGE Filed March I2, 1951 11 @QD/MANI A Am.

Patented Aug. 8, 1933 UNITED sTArs PATENT eric Application March 2, 1931, Serial No. 519,608, and in Denmark December 9, 1930 4 Claims.

In contract bridge the number oi points reckoned for overtricks and undertricks varies according as the pair playing is in the first or second game. Now, attempts have been made 5 to make the number of points gained by overtricks or understricks agree as nearly as possible with the error which was presumably made if the number of tricks obtained was not the number which was bid. But, on account ci the nature of the matter, it has not been possible to establish the points scored for a number of overtricks or understricks as a simple multiple of the number 'of points gained for one overtrck or undertrick. For the same reason the number or" points scored for overtricks when doubled for example, it not twice as large as the number of points scored for the same number of normal overtricks. Consequently many diierent values for the tricks are established, which may appear on supercial consideration to be quite arbitrary, and, therefore, are remembered only with diniculty; this makes it necessary to employ special aids in order to be able to ascertain how many points the pair playing the hand was gained for a given number of overtricks or understricks when playing a normal hand or when doubled or redoubled. Heretofore, tables have been used for this purpose but these were very extensive and difficult to use, since they had to contain the number of points for up to six overtriclrs in the rst and second game when playing a normal hand and when doubled and redoubled, as well as the score values for up to seven undertricks for these three conditions of play, together with the score values for fulfilling contract when doubled and redoubled. The object of the present invention is to provide a device whereby the number of points won or lost can be ascertained conveniently and surely. The invention consists essentially in a nat carrier bearing on one side numbers representing points for play in the first game and on the other side numbers representing points for play in the second game, the said numbers being arranged in columns for overtricks and undertricks, in normal play and when doubled and redoubled, two slides being mounted in the said carrier which cover each of the tables provided on the faces of the carrier, each of these slides having an opening capable of being arranged so as to disclose three portions of the table simultaneously, the said portions corresponding to the number of points for a given number of overtricks or undertricks in normal play and when doubled and redoubled, respectively. The invention Will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure l shows one constructional form oi the subject of the invention Viewed from the face used for ascertaining the number or" points scored when the pair playing the hand is in the first game. Figure 2 shows the device represented in Figure l viewed from the reverse face. Figure 3 shows a section taken along the line III-111m Figure l. Figure 4 is an elevational view of a part of the same side of the device, as illustrated in Figure l, except that the slide has beenremoved to show the indicia which is carried by the element disposed thereunder. The carrier of the device consists, in the constructional form shown, of a iiat middle portion l, made, for example, of a piece of cardboard, to the edges of which narrow strips 2 are attached, which again are covered by wider portions 3 so that the two slides 4l, 5 can be arranged in the carrier so as to be capable of being moved to and iro therein. The number of points scored for overtricks and undertricks, as well as for fulfilment `or" contract, when doubled or redoubled, are printed in columns on bothfaces ofthe middle portion 1. The points indicated on the two faces correspond to play in the rst and second games, respectively. Oi the three columns on each face, one column indicates the points to be scored for overtricks and undertricks in normal play, the second column indicates the corresponding points when doubled, and the third column when redoubled. The tables of points thus formed are covered by the slides 4, 5 each of which is provided with an opening 6 capable oi revealing three numerical values of points for a denite number, for example, four, overtricks and/or undertricks in normal play and when doubled and redoubled. In the accompanying drawing, the slide 4 is shown in the position for which it reveals the number or points which correspond to three overtricks in play in the first game, while the slide 5 is shown in the position which reveals the numbers of points for four undertricks if the partners playing the hand are in their second game. In order to indicate the number of overtricks or undertricks to which the figures revealed by one of the openings 6 refer, the number of overtricks or undertricks is specied on the side portions 3, so that the number adjacent the opening 6 for any particular position or the latter indicates the number or" overtricks or undertricks to which the score disclosed corresponds. In the constructional form shown,

the undertricks are specied on the lower portion of the carrier while the points scored for fuliilment of contract and overtricks are on the upper portions of the carrier. The two portions are separated from one another by means of a bridge piece 7 which covers the opening 6 in the slide when the latter is in its mean position. The slides are provided with column indications at the openings 6 which relate to overtricks and undertricks in normal play and when doubled and redoubled. Further, the values for grand slam and little slam in the first and second (rubber) games are printed on each of the slides. Finally, the ordinary rules of play and also a statement of the number of points for tricks bid and for honours may be printed on the slides. The printing on the two faces of the device may preferably be made in two different colours, for example, the face relating to play in the iirst gaine being printed in black and the face relating to play in the second or rubber game being printed in red. In this way the best possible assurance is attained that the correct side will always be used. The slides are provided at the ends with parts 8 by means of which they can readily be moved. They may preferably be made of such Y length that their extremities do not quite enter within the transverse frame portions 3 when the slides are in their extreme positions; otherwise the return of the slides might easily be rendered difficult in that their ends might catch in the parts of the frame if they happened to be bent over or upwardly to a slight extent.

I claim:

l. A scoring device for use in contract bridge comprising a substantially iiat elongated carrier Y transverse extension of the three columns and having a height corresponding to the height of the figures, whereby it may reveal three and only three juxtaposed gures simultaneously.

2. A scoring device for use in contract bridge comprising a flat elongated carrier provided at least on one face withnumbers or gures representing points to be scored for different tricks, said figures for normal play, when doubled or when redoubled, respectively, being arranged in three parallel columns extending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier, the figures themselves extending in a transverse direction, until a certain distance from both of the longitudinal edges of the carrier, the margin part thus provided being covered by frame parts secured to the carrier and presenting grooves or channels, a reciprocatory elongated slide mounted between said carrier and said frame parts and guided in said grooves or channels, said slide having an opening extending in the transverse direction of the slide and corresponding in size to the area of the carrier occupied by a set of three juxtaposed igures in the three said columns.

3. A scoring device, as claimed in claim 1, in which the opening in the slide is situated substantially at the middle of the slide, and the figures indicated on the carrier correspond to numbers of overtricks and undertrcks respectively, increasing from the middle of the carrier towards both ends of it and being indicated on the longitudinal frame parts.

Ll, A scoring device, as Vclaimed in claim 1, in which the opening in the slidegis situated substantially at the middle of the slide, and the middle part of the carrier is left blank, being situated beneath a bridge part connecting the two longitudinal frame parts substantially at the middie oi the carrier, the columns of iigures on the carrier extending towards each end of the carrier from the blank middle part, said figures corresponding to numbers of overtricks and undertricks respectively, increasing from the middle of the carrier towards both ends of it and being indicated on the longitudinal frame parts.

HARALD HEERING.

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