US3224780A - Game board for solitaire - Google Patents

Description

' Dec. 21, 1965 F. w. MOHL 3,224,780

GAME BOARD FOR SOLITAIRE Filed Jan. 4, 1962 FIG! 3- 4 L i i 2 2/ i? iv, lg Q Q,

4i 2 4 3 4 3 4 I 3 2 W l s\FlG.2 V My 42- 22/42 2 2 4 3 4 4 3 2 W )1! W mfiW/fl 2W9? i f' 4 F|G.4

INVE

FRED W. HL

United States Patent 3,224,780 GAME BOARD FOR SOLITAIRE Fred W. Mohl, 1580 N. Griggs St., St. Paul 13, Minn. Filed Jan. 4, 1962, Sex. No. 164,308 1 Claim. (Cl. 273148) This invention relates to game boards, and more particularly to a game board for playing solitaire with play- 1 ing cards.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient and compact sized game board for solitaire, the playing surface of which is divided into uniform spaces surrounded by squared edges which serve as guides for the cards, with grooves in each of the spaces which serve as a means of convenient manipulation of the cards during play. It is designed to accommodate any of the various games of solitaire requiring spaces for parallel columns and rows of cards forming the tableau, and spaces for the foundations, usually consisting of the four aces as they become available in play from the tableau, and are built up in suit to kings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game board for solitaire which may be held in the players lap, or may be used by an invalid in a bed or wheel-chair.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game board for solitaire which may be used for pleasure and relaxation by travelers aboard air, surface and sea conveyances.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a game board for solitaire which will gratify the players aesthetic sense of beauty and geometric orderliness by keeping each column and foundation of cards straight and parallel, and prevent errors in play due to cards slipping, sliding and overlapping.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a game board for solitaire bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, minimum size, light weight, inexpensive to manufacture and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view in reduced scale of a game board made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a full scale broken longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a full scale broken transverse cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 4 is a full scale fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now in more detail to the drawing, it will be noted that the playing surface of the game board has a contour consisting essentially of three elevations, numbered 1-3 on the drawing. During play the cards rest upon elevation 1, and are restricted in their lateral position or movement by the squared edges 4 joining elevation 1 with elevation 2.

Elevation 3 is the bottom of all of the grooves, which grooves provide a clearance between cards and bottom of grooves to admit the fingertip when picking up columns of cards. It is to be noted that these grooves are wide enough to permit flexing of a card resting upon elevation 1 by exerting a slight pressure with tip of finger, and thus pick up partial columns of cards Without disturbing those cards which are to remain in place during play.

As will be noted by reference to the drawing, the board must be maintained in an approximately horizontal position during play. If the game is interrupted or tem- 3,224,780 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 porarily discontinued to be resumed at a later time, the board with layout of cards in place can be leaned ver tically against any convenient object by using either side edge of the board as a base.

The foundation areas located horizontally across top of the board in FIGURE 1 are provided with edges to insure vertical stacking of cards placed therein.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above referenced drawings, it is to be understood 0 that they are only for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construct-ion may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is limited only in accordance with the appended claim. And while there is stated the primary field or utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found to be applicable.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which this invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the specification in connection with the drawings. Therefore a more lengthy description of the operation and employment of this game board is regarded as unnecessary.

Certain technical terms peculiar to the art of solitaire have been used in this specification in order to achieve clearity and brevity. Definitions of these terms are listed below for the convenient reference of all who may be concerned:

LayoutThe total number of cards dealt to start the game, and including the foundation and the tableau.

Foundation-Certain cards which must be segregated at some stage of the game, and built up with available cards. In any game using foundations, the objective is to build every foundation to the specified limit in order to win the game. (In most games foundations start with the ace, and the objective is to build up in suit to the king.)

Tableau-The rest of the layout other than the foundations.

Column-A vertical line of cards extending away from the player.

RowA horizontal line of cards (with respect to the player).

Source of above definitions is the book Ways To Play Solitaire by Alphonse Moyse, Jr., endorsed by United States Playing Card Company, and copyright 1950 by Whitman Publishing Company.

From the foregoing specification it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed. Further, that it will place the relaxing and entertaining game of solitaire within a new sphere of comfort and convenience hitherto unknown to its adherents. It will contribute new pleasures and comforts -to the invalid and the convalescent. It will speed the miles for the traveler, and it will provide pleasures and benefits for all who will use it.

I claim:

A game board for use with a deck of playing cards of predetermined length and width, the board comprising:

a generally rectangular flat body portion including along one edge thereof a series of four longitudinally aligned recesses, each of a size to accommodate a series of superposed cards,

a groove in said body portion extending from a point beyond an end recess of the series of recesses to a point beyond the other end recess of the series,

a series of elongated side by side recesses arranged with their longitudinal axes at right angles to said series of recesses, said side by side recesses being of a Width substantially equal to the width of the cards and of a length substantially greater than the length of the cards, and

said body portion including a groove extending from a point beyond an end of each of said side by side recesses, and adjacent to said aligned recesses, to 2.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Halverson.

Hecker 273-450 Plummer et a1. 273-436 Ellingson 273149 Molinar 273148 Booth 273-151 point spaced from the other end thereof a distance 10 DELBERT LOWE, Primary Examine"- LEONARD W. VARNER, Examiner.

less than the length of the cards.

Images