Bingo Card Holders
- Amazon.com: bingo ticket holder. Yellow Mountain Imports Standard-Size Solid Oak Wood Playing Card Holders - Set of 2. 4.5 out of 5 stars 960.
- The Talex Bingo Verifier - Stand-Alone OR Integrated Turn any bingo console in to a state-of-the-art piece of modern bingo equipment! Purchase an entry level console (such as the Duke or the Liberty) and upgrade to get all the features of the top of the line consoles Or, simply upgrade your existing equipment!
Did you scroll all this way to get facts about bingo card holder? Well you're in luck, because here they come. There are 416 bingo card holder for sale on Etsy, and they cost $12.55 on average. The most common bingo card holder material is soy. The most popular color? You guessed it: orange. American Games is a leading manufacturer of charitable and lottery gaming products, including pull tab tickets (break-open tickets), promotional games, bingo paper, pull tab vending machines, and ticket counting machines. We are the single largest manufacturer of pull tabs to lottery jurisdictions and the second largest bingo paper manufacturer.
This invention relates to a holder for bingo cards. More particularly, it relates to such a holder for displaying a plurality of such cards in desirable playing positions, so that one playing the game may easily and conveniently cover the various called numbers on a plurality of cards.
The game of bingo is played by millions each week in the United States and has become an important source of revenue for religious and charitable institutions. Whereas originally each player played one card, attempting to cover five spaces in a row to win, today most players play a plurality of cards simultaneously in an effort to improve their odds of winning. Various devices have been made to hold such pluralities of cards and various auxiliary features have been incorporated in them.
In a search made shortly before the filing of this application the art found relevant to the present invention included U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,509,773; 2,624,582; 2,742,292; 2,784,973; 3,323,801; and 3,810,323. Of these patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,784,973 and 3,810,323 relate specifically to bingo card holders and the other patents are for various card holders and game devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,784,973 shows a foldable apparatus adapted to hang over a table edge and to provide support for a plurality of bingo boards and the markers used for playing the game. U.S. Pat. No. 3,810,323 illustrates a convertible bingo card holder, capable of holding as many as eight bingo cards for viewing and playing, which is foldable to compact form. U.S. Pat. No. 3,323,801 illustrates a foldable card holder and U.S. Pat. No. 2,742,292 shows a polystyrene playing card holder having a plurality of vertical slots. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,509,773 and 2,624,582 show different types of game devices, including card holders, which are joinable together. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,509,773 such joinder is shown as being effected by dovetailing means.
Although bingo card and playing card holders are known, none of the prior art of which applicant is aware shows any holders like those of the present invention, in which bingo cards are conveniently displayed in substantially vertical and substantially horizontal positions, inclined so as to promote better viewing and playing thereof. Also, none of the prior art references known to applicant, either alone or in combination, makes obvious the subject matter of this invention, including the convenient joinder together of a plurality of such holders to stabilize them and facilitate playing of a multiplicity of cards, the improvement of the strength of the holder, which can be of thin material, by utilizing a formed in recess for holding game elements and incidentals, the inclusion of projecting means in the holding slots for better yieldingly holding the bingo cards in place, and the utilization of a balanced holding structure which tends to stabilize the relatively light weight holders.
In accordance with the present invention a holder for a plurality of bingo cards to be played simultaneously by a single player comprises a body having at least a pair of holding means, each of which is capable of supporting a bingo card, with such cards being holdable so that one is substantially horizontal and another is substantially vertical. Desirably, the holder includes means at the ends thereof, such as molded-in dovetail joints, for fastening a plurality of holders together and the card holding means are slots which may include internal projections for better holding the bingo cards in place. Also, the holder preferably includes a strengthening walled recess portion and slots of particular inclinations, and is blow molded or otherwise suitably formed, in at least a partially nesting configuration, to improve storage in a minimum of space.
Bingo Card Holder Plastic
The invention will be readily understood by reference to the description thereof in this specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a holder of this invention; and
FIG. 2 is a front-side perspective view of the holder of FIG. 1, showing the positioning of a typical bingo card in a substantially vertical card holding slot of the holder.
In FIG. 1 numeral 11 designates the invented holder for a plurality of bingo cards, comprising a body portion 13 and a plurality of walled holding means 15 and 17 therein. As shown, the holder is formed of a thermoplastic polymeric material, such as polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC, nylon or other suitable 'plastic', preferably made by a blow molding technique, although other molding methods may also be employed. Preferably, the holder is also comparatively thin walled, so as to make the product light in weight and of low cost. Body 13 includes vertical sides, one of which, identified by numeral 19, is shown, and vertical back, upper front and lower front walls, 21, 23 and 25, respectively, but such walls may be inclined and, to facilitate nesting storage, such inclinings may be preferred. A dovetail wall portion 27, to facilitate joinder together of a plurality of holders, is also shown in FIG. 1. The rear top portion of the holder, the surface of which is identified by numeral 29, is horizontal and the front top surface 31 is flat (except for a recessed portion and a dovetail opening, which will be described with respect to FIG. 2), and is inclined downwardly toward the user of the holder and the player of bingo.
Holder 11 includes at least a pair of holding means, 15 and 17, each of which is capable of supporting a bingo card. The cards are holdable in position so that one is held substantially horizontally, preferably inclined downwardly and toward the player, and the other is held substantially vertically, preferably inclined upwardly and away from the player, which positions facilitate clear, space conserving viewings of the cards and playing of the game. The holding means 15 and 17 include, respectively, front and back walls 33 and 35, with curved bottom supporting portion 37, and top and bottom walls 39 and 41, with connecting wall portion 43. Slots 45 and 47, defined respectively by walls 33, 35 and 37 for slot 45, and 39, 41 and 43 for slot 47, have projections 49, 51, 53 and 55 extending into them, respectively, so as to narrow down the clearances between the bingo cards and the slot walls and to press against the cards or pinch them, thereby better holding them in position. The slots have been enlarged for purpose of illustration but in actuality they will usually be of approximately the design thickness of the card, with the projections from the slot walls resiliently pressing against the card and squeezing it so that it is held in position, but may be removed when desired. It is noted that the projections are rounded and are angled so as to facilitate insertion, making removal somewhat more difficult. Also, as illustrated, the projections are directly opposed to each other but they may be staggered, if so desired. Of course, different numbers and types of projections may be utilized. It will be noted that the slots, while respectively substantially vertical and substantially horizontal, are illustrated in the present preferred form of the invention as being inclined to the vertical and the horizontal, respectively. Thus, substantially vertical slot 45 is at an angle of 0° to 45°, preferably 5° to 25° or 30° from the vertical, and slot 47 is at an angle of 5° to 30°, preferably from 5° to 15° or 20° from the horizontal. Such angles have been preferred for best holding, viewing and balancing of the cards and for best strengthening the holder.
In FIG. 2, in addition to the various parts already referred to with respect to FIG. 1, which are similarly numbered in many instances, there are illustrated longitudinally extending curved hollow or recess 57 and dovetail shaped opening 59, as well as lower recess 61, which helps to define supporting legs 63 and 65. Also, in phantom, illustrated in position in the holder, there is shown a typical bingo card 67, which may be of any suitable style. Recess 57 is useful for holding game playing material such as game pieces, marking implements, daubers and incidentals, including change and cosmetics. Of course, dovetail opening 59 is adapted to fit a dovetail projection of another holder, like that indicated by numeral 27, so as to join together in a row a plurality of holders of the present invention. Such joinder helps to rigidify the assembly and assists in stabilizing it. Furthermore, although in the present illustrations the bingo card is shown as being slightly larger than the holder, the present holders are adapted to be utilized with various sizes of cards. When the holders are assembled together, with the slots therein aligned so that the cards may be placed close together and portions of the cards may extend across different holders, such will further help to stabilize the assembly. It will be noted that the various indentations and curved and interfitting wall portions of the invented articles help to strengthen them. This is especially useful when they are made of relatively thin plastic materials, usually being from 0.5 to 4 mm. thick, frequently from 1 to 3 mm. thick, e.g., about 1.5 or 2 mm. thick, or averaging such dimensions. Similarly, the strengthened article structure thereby better holds the various shapes of the wall portions thereof in position.
Although it is highly preferable that relatively thin thermoplastic material be employed it is within the present invention to utilize different thicknesses and other materials of construction, e.g., metals, and to stamp the various parts from sheet stock. Also, while joinder together by means of dovetail-type joints is highly preferred and joinder in longitudinal relationship has special advantages, other means of joinder may be employed and non-longitudinal assemblies may be made. Furthermore, instead of the invented articles being made entirely of one substance, different parts may be made of different materials. For example, rubber feet may be utilized in place of or in addition to the described leg or support portions.
As shown in the illustration, the present holders are adaptable for use with: bingo cards that are to be marked with a crayon or a felt-tip pen; cards that are to have game elements, such as corn kernels, beans or markers placed on the called numbers; and cards wherein a slide is utilized to cover or otherwise identify a called number (or free space). Of course, the 'vertical' card would not normally support loose markers so if the vertical slot is to be utilized in a bingo game played with loose markers the card will be adapted by being bent or by being rested or mounted on an adapter for the present device, not shown, which will fit in the vertical slot and will support a second 'horizontal' card in desired position. Of course, when loose indicators for called numbers are not utilized the present card may be employed, as shown. Similarly, when thin and highly flexible paper sheets are employed they should be backed with heavier cardboard or other suitable backing material. It will be noticed that the two holding slots of the present article tend to maintain the cards in a counterbalanced relationship, which is useful, especially because the holder can be made of light weight material and might otherwise be more subject to being tilted. In this respect the downward to the front inclination of the forward slot helps to bring the card to bear against a table top, when present, and further helps to stabilize the assembled structure.
The illustrated article is relatively flat so that it does not occupy any excessive amount of storage space. The presences of the projections in the slot walls and the counterbalancing effects previously mentioned help to give the article stability, despite its thinness and light weight. Storage of the invented articles may be improved (compacted) by having them fit together, or nest, at least partially, by inclining the sides and hollows thereof in conventional nesting design, and removing unnecessary wall portions where such can interfere with nesting. Normally, although such nesting is desirable, because of the comparatively low structure illustrated it will not be necessary, and accordingly it is not specifically illustrated herein although it is considered to be within the present invention. In some aspects of the invention the holders may be pressed flat for storage and then may be restored to desired shape for use by folding or interfitting of parts (as when some paperboard parts are incorporated in the structure) and sometimes may be returned to shape by means of the material's 'memory'. Similarly, the holders may be made to lie or pack essentially flat and may be expandable to shape (as by inflation), foldable and tapable to form, holdable by snap joints at corners, or assemblable with other known fastening means.
In playing a game of bingo on a plurality of different boards, using the present articles, one first selects the desired number of holders, joins them together longitudinally, using a plurality of lines of holders if that is desired, and inserts the cards, mounted sheets or other bingo board devices in place in both the substantially vertical and substantially horizontal holding means or slots. Preferably, the boards are slid together and at least some of them bridge adjoining holders. Various marking devices and implements may be stored in one or more of the recesses in the holders. If desired, such recesses may be omitted from some of the holders but it is preferred that they all include them, for reasons which were previously given. Typical bingo card holders of this invention, for example, those including such recesses, may be about 17 centimeters long, 3.2 cm. high and 7.6 cm. wide or deep, with the slots thereof being about 0.5 cm. wide, 1.9 cm. long (horizontal) and 2.5 cm. deep (vertical). In such devices the dovetail will often be about 1.6 cm. across and 0.6 cm. deep and the cavity or recess can be about 10 cm. long and 3.5 cm. in diameter. When the recess is omitted the vertical slot will usually not be as deep and the holder won't be as wide. For example, then these dimensions may be reduced to about 1.9 and 5.7 cm., respectively. However, the slot walls and the recess walls, when present, will usually be within 0.3 to 2 cm. of each other and/or of other holder walls at at least some locations, which aids in strengthening the article. In some cases it may be desirable to utilize a rubber pad or rubber feet at the base of the holder to minimize undesirable sliding thereof. When the game has been played it is a simple matter to remove or re-set the bingo boards or cards for a subsequent game. In some instances Velcro® fasteners may be used to hold markers to the boards by the characteristic hook and loop holding means thereof.
Bingo Card Holder Wooden
Bingo Card Holder Plastic
The invention has been described with respect to various illustrations and embodiments thereof but is not to be limited to these because it is evident that one of skill in the art, with the present specification and drawing before him, will be able to utilize substitutes and equivalents without departing from the invention.
Bingo Card Holder Board
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a card holder for displaying a multiplicity of bingo cards in a viewing position permitting an experienced player to utilize six to eight cards at one time. The device in some measure resembles a foldable card holder or display rack. A collapsible, foldable, convertible card rack which occupies a minimum space in the carrying package configuration and assembles and extends into a rather large card display rack.
2. Description of Prior Art
Playing card holders in a small measure resembling this invention are known to the prior art and have been patented such as U. S. Pat. No. 3,323,801. Display devices for holding cards or training aids have been developed, such as U.S. Pat. No. 1,359,492 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,863,624 as well as convertible easel devices such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,095,834. This related prior art though well suited for their intended uses are not adaptable to the use for which this invention was developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Enthusiasm for the game of Bingo and the desire of a player to simultaneously utilize multiple cards led your inventor to develop this device. One object was to design a device which in the collapsed, folded position occupies a minimum of space permitting placing the holder in a large lady's purse. Another object was to provide a device boldly displaying as many as eight cards for simultaneous play.
In accomplishing the foregoing objects, your inventor developed a bingo card holder constructed of sheet metal components slidably telescoping with certain components pivotally foldable. The collapsed device occupies a space of little over one inch thick, two inches wide, and fourteen inches long. In the assembled, extended position, the device sitting erect on a table is two feet wide and over one foot tall and receives three or four bingo cards in the bottom card support member and an additional three or four cards in the center card support member. The cards are received and supported in card slots on the base of the bottom member and adjacent the lower edge of the center member displaying the cards on the top portion of the device.
The prototype of the preferred embodiment was constructed of thirty guage galvanized sheet metal bent or formed into the desired configuration. Pop rivets were employed to attach the components at the corner pivot points. Any type of metal may be utilized or the device could be constructed of plastic which may be molded or injection molded.
For a detailed description of the preferred embodiment, reference is made to the attached drawings wherein identical reference characters will be employed to refer to identical or equivalent components throughout the several views and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment.
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the assembled device in the display configuration.
FIG. 2 is a side view of one of the legs of the device.
FIG. 3 is a back view of one of the legs of the device.
FIG. 4 is a fragmented or disassembled view disclosing the top member.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the top member left upright taken substantially on line 5--5 looking in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the top member left taken substantially on line 6--6 looking in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the top member right taken substantially on line 7--7 looking in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 8 is a fragmented or disassembled view disclosing the center member.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the center member left taken substantially on line 9--9 looking in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the center member right taken substantially on line 10--10 looking in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the center member right taken substantially on line 11--11 looking in the direction of the arrows. This view primarily discloses the support clip.
FIG. 12 is a fragmented or disassembled view of the bottom member.
FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the bottom member left taken substantially on line 13--13 looking in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the bottom member right taken substantially on line 14--14 looking in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the bottom member upright support taken substantially on line 15--15 looking in the direction of the arrows. This view primarily illustrates the position and construction of the bottom member top support stop.
FIG. 16 is a fragmented view of the bottom member lower right pivot viewed from line 16--16 looking in the direction of the arrows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment was constructed from 30 guage galvanized plated steel SD 42 BS. Well known sheet metal working methods and procedures were employed in constructing the device. The prototype was sturdy and performed in an acceptable manner. Other methods of construction could be employed such as utilization of other metals or wood components or the device might well be constructed of plastic. For a detailed description of the various components, reference is made to the attached Figures. The composite frame 20, in the assembled configuration as illustrated in FIG. 1, is supported by a left leg 21 and a right leg 22. The configuration of legs 21 and 22 is best illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. They are constructed with an elongated leg support 23 which is secured to the rear of frame 20 by means of leg clips 24. These legs 21 and 22 were formed from sheet metal using conventional cutting, bending, and forming techniques.
For an illustration of the construction of the top member 26, reference is particularly made to FIGS. 4-7. The device was constructed from folded telescopingly, slidingly engaging components in a configuration resembling a curtain rod. Top member right 27 is formed with slightly lesser dimension and fits in and slidably engages top member left 28. Projecting down from the top member right 27 is top member right support 29 pivotally secured by top member right pivot 30. In a similar fashion, top member left support 32 is secured to top member left 28 by top member left pivot 33. To prevent over-extension or disengagement of the components of top member 26, there is compatibly constructed in top member left 28 and top member right 27 a top member telescoping stop 34 which may comprise projections from the respective members which engage or any suitable rivet like projections which could engage and limit extremes of the telescoping extension. The configuration of folded metal components of top member 26 is perhaps best illustrated in the cross-sectional views FIG. 5, 6 and 7.
For a description of the detailed construction and configuration of center member 36, reference is particularly made to FIGS. 8-11. Previously referred to metal working techniques are employed for constructing this component of the device. This center member 36 comprises two telescoping members designated as center member left 37 and center member right 38. The sectional configuration of center member left 37 is illustrated in FIG. 9. The configuration of FIG. 9 is compatible with the insertion of center member right 38 as illustrated in FIG. 10. These respective components slidably engage and are retained in the assembled position by center member telescoping stop 41 compatibly constructed into the members to prevent their inadvertent disassembly. There is constructed at the outer extremity of center member left 37 and right 38 a center member left support clip 39 and a center member right support clip 40. The configuration of these support clips 39 and 40 is illustrated in FIG. 11. Each of the sliding components of center member 36 has constructed in its lower edge a hook-like 'L' shaped element designated as center member card slot 42. The slot 42 is of such configuration and dimensions as to readily receive and support the conventional bingo card (not illustrated).
For a detailed description of bottom member 45 and the elements of this device which would rest on the table or any flat surface when in the assembled configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, reference is made to FIGS. 12-16. Bottom member 45, in a compatible configuration with the components previously described, is constructed from a bottom member left 46 and a bottom member right 47 which are compatibly constructed to slidably engage as illustrated in their cross-sectional configurations, FIGS. 13 and 14. The two components are retained in the assembled position by bottom member telescoping stop 48 which may comprise projections or engaging stops or any type of restriction which would prevent the inadvertent disassembly of the device. At the lower left extremity of bottom member left 46 is pivotally, foldably secured bottom member left upright 49. Bottom member left upright 49 is constructed from foldable sheet metal having cross-sectional configuration substantially as illustrated in FIG. 15. The dimensions and configuration are such as to slidably receive top member left support 32 as well as center member left support clip 39. In a similar fashion, pivotally secured to the bottom member right 47 is bottom member right upright 51 which is pivotally and foldably secured by bottom member upright pivot 52. The construction and configuration of this bottom member right upright 51 is illustrated in FIG. 15 and is of such dimensions and configurations as to slidably receive top member right support 29 as well as center member right support clip 40. The depth to which top member left support 32 and top member right support 29 penetrate bottom member left upright 49 and bottom member right upright 51 is determined by the position of bottom member top support stop left 54 and bottom member top support stop right 55. The configuration and dimensions of bottom member left and right uprights 49 and 51 is such as to slidably receive and retain the respective leg clips 24 of the left and right legs 21 and 22 as illustrated in the assembled configuration of FIG. 1.
OPERATION AND ASSEMBLY
The device in the assembled configuration is substantially illustrated in FIG. 1. In such a configuration, the bottom member 45 would rest on a table or any flat surface. The top member right and left supports 29 and 32 slidably engage bottom member left and right uprights 49 and 51. Top member supports 29 and 32 contact and rest on the bottom member top support stops 54 and 55. At the upper extremities of bottom member left upright 49 and bottom member right upright 51 is positioned and retained center member 36 by means of slidably engaging of the center member left and right support clips 39 and 40. In this configuration, as many as three or four bingo cards can be placed in the center member card slot 42 and the bottom member card slot 53. Accordingly, a total of six to eight cards may be displayed and played.
In the disassembled configuration of the device, in the foldable, compact position which may be placed in a large lady's purse, first the legs 21 and 22 are detached from the device by withdrawing the leg clips 24. Center member 36 is normally next disassembled by disengaging the support clips 39 and 40. Slight pressure applied at each end of center member 36 will then telescope and contract this member to its minimum length. In the next step of disassembly, the top member 26 and bottom member 45 are detached by withdrawing telescoping engagement of the two components. Pressure at the end of top member 26 and bottom member 45 telescopingly reduce the members to their minimum length. The pivotally secured top member right and left supports 29 and 32 are folded over. In a similar fashion, bottom member left and right uprights 49 and 51 are folded over. In this disassembled configuration, the various components occupy a minimum space and nestle in a small packet.
Having described this device, its construction and detail of a preferred embodiment and suggested alternative methods of construction, what is desired to be claimed is all modifications or adaptations of the device not departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.