US3140777A - Card case - Google Patents

Description

July 14, 1964 c}, GORDAN 3,140,777

CARD CASE Filed Jan. 28, 1963 INVENTOR ALVIN C. GORDAN BY F'IQWIQZW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,140,777 CARD CASE Alvin C. Gordan, Bradshaw, Nebr. (Highways 34 and 81, Box 336, York, Nebr.) Filed Jan. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 254,384 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-1) This invention relates to devices adapted to contain playing cards, and is particularly concerned with the provision of such a device, commonly known as a card case, which automatically moves cards contained therein to an easily engageable position upon opening of the case.

Various devices have heretofore been proposed for containing playing cards when such cards are not in use. Some of such devices comprise simple cardboard boxes having flap-closing elements at opposite ends thereof whereby a deck of playing cards can be inserted therein, and removed therefrom. Other of such devices, which are somewhat more elaborate, include a drawer-type container, which, under manual operation, is slidable into and out of a housing. Still another type of card-carrying device includes a case having a removable lid, the case and lid being so arranged that the cards are disposed within the case in standing relation.

The discussion in the preceding paragraph is but exemplary of prior constructions which have been suggested, and is not intended to be an exhaustive explanation of every card-carrying device previously marketed, patented, or otherwise disclosed. However, the types of devices discussed in such paragraph exemplify the problems encountered in efiiciently removing cards therefrom. In each instance, all of the cards in a deck must be grasped by an edge if the deck is to be removed in a single operation. To prevent the disassembly of the cards and dispersal thereof in diverse directions, it is necessary to apply substantial pressure to the edge being grasped at least during the initial removal operation. In short, the prior devices do not operate to provide for convenient and efficient removal of a deck of cards.

The present invention is particularly concerned with providing a card case which is not subject to the aforesaid disadvantages. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a card case which yields an automatic movement of the cards contained therein whereby all of the cards can be conveniently grasped, as a deck, and removed completely from the device.

In line with the foregoing general objects, an even more specific object of the present invention is to provide a card-carrying case having a pivotally openable lid or cover portion which, when pivoted to open position, automatically delivers a substantial portion of each card to a position where the deck of cards can be conveniently grasped. In additional detail, it is an important but specific object hereof to provide a card-carrying case conforming with the preceding objects, and including a housing or outer tray member, an inner tray member, and a closure, so assembled and arranged that opening of the closure slides the inner tray member to a position where the same delivers the cards exteriorly of the outer tray member.

Notwithstanding the specific objects explained in the immediately preceding paragraphs, there are certain further important general objects of the present invention. These include: (a) the provision of a card-carrying case yielding the aforesaid advantages, and in addition being so designed as to be capable of inexpensive construction; (b) the provision of such a card-carrying case which is formed of separable components that can be fabricated from metal, plastic, or other suitable material and then easily assembled; (c) the provision of such a card-carrying case which presents exteriorly planar surfaces adapted "ice to receive printed indicia, such as suitable advertisements, personal name imprints, or the like; (d) the provision of such a card-carrying case which incorporates means thereon and therein for inter-engagement between the components forming the case whereby the same cannot shake loose, or become disassembled and lost, and further, whereby the case can be maintained easily in closed condition when desired; and (e) the provision of such a case which proves troublefree with continued operation even when formed of comparatively inexpensive materials.

The invention lies in the combination arrangement disposition and form of various constituent elements incorporated therein. The invention will be better understood, and objects other than those set forth above, will become readily apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description. Such description refers to the annexed drawings presenting a preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a card-carrying case constructed in accordance herewith as the same would appear when in closed condition;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the card-carrying case shown in FIGURE 1, but as the same would appear when in open position; and

FIGURE 3 is a side view, partially in section, and showing the component parts of the case in open position.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURE 1, there is shown therein a card-carrying case 2 comprising a base housing or outer tray member 4, and a closure member 6 for the outer tray member or base housing 4. The closure member 6, as explained more fully below, is pivotally mounted with respect to the outer tray member or base housing 4 whereby the same is pivotal from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 2.

The case 2, in addition to including the outer tray member 4 and the closure member 6, has an inner tray member 8. The inner tray member 8, as also explained more fully below, is reciprocal within the base housing or outer tray member 4.

For convenience, the term outer tray member is used hereinbelow exclusively. However, it is to be understood that the outer tray member can equally well be regarded as a base housing, and thus in the appended claim, the terms outer tray member and base housing are both used, since the respective terms facilitate properly defining the invention.

If reference is again made to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the outer tray member 4 includes a base wall 10, upstanding side walls 12 and 14, and rear wall 16. The base wall It) is generally rectangular in shape, as are the upstanding side Walls 12 and 14, and the rear wall 16. Moreover, the preferred embodiment hereof contemplates forming the various walls of the outer tray member 4 as an integral body. Injection molding techniques are readily adapted to the formation of such a structure, but alternatively, such tray member may be formed from sheet stock to provide the ultimate construction shown.

The closure member 6, like the outer tray member 4, is preferably integrally formed. The closure member includes a top wall 18 and a front wall 20 depending from the top wall and specifically one edge thereof.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a pivot shaft 22 ex tends entirely across the rear top edge of the case 2. Such pivot shaft is supported in suitable pivot bearing blocks 24 which essentially comprise, for example, ring members fixed in opposed aligned relation on the facing sides of walls 12 and 14 at the rear upper edge thereof. The rings 24 rotatably support the shaft 22, and While such type of pivot connection is conventional, it should be understood that other types of pivotal mountings can readily be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, pivot pins projecting through suitable apertures in the walls 12 and'14 and cooperating with depending pivot brackets extending from the top wall 18 might well replace the pivot means presented in the drawing.

Regardless of the particular form of pivot means used, the cover or closure member 6 carries at the rear end thereof a depending flange such as that generally desig nated by the numeral 25. The flange, as shown, is rectangular in shape and is dimensioned so as to fit between the interfaces of walls 12 and 14 so as to not interfere with pivoting of the cover member 6. Rather than use a flange plate such as that designated by numeral 25, depending fingers or the like can easily replace the flange, and in fact, other means reacting between the cover member and the inner tray member to be described, can be incorporated.

The inner tray member 8 has generally a corresponding shape to the outer tray member 4. The inner tray mem ber includes a base wall 26, upstanding side walls 28, and an upstanding rear end wall 30. The outer dimensions of the inner tray member 8 are such that the inner tray member is easily reciprocal within the outer tray member 4 between the rearmost position thereof shown in solid line in FIGURE 3, and the forwardmost position thereof shown in phantom line in FIGURE 3.

In addition to the constituent elements described above, the preferred form of card-carrying case constructed in accordance herewith provides recesses 32 in opposite side walls 12 and 14, the recesses facing inwardly of the case 2, and toward one another. Further, the preferred form of case provided hereby includes projections 34- extending from opposite side walls 28 of the inner tray member and being disposed within the recesses 32. The projection and cooperating slot arrangement permits reciprocal movement of the inner tray member 8, while at the same time maintaining the inner tray member in generally nonremovable relation to the outer tray member 4.

With the arrangement constructed as described above, the pivot means, including the pivot shaft 22 and pivot bearings 24, serves to mount the closure member 6 with the top wall 18 thereof pivotally movable from a first position where the top wall overlies the base wall of the outer tray member and the front wall 20 closes the open end or forward end of the outer tray member to a second position where the front wall 20 is free of the open end of the outer tray member and the top wall is upward from the location which such wall assumed in the first position. In other words, the closure member is pivotally movable from a first position as shown in FIGURE 1 to a second position as shown in FIGURE 2.

The inner tray member 8 which is reciprocally mounted within the outer tray member, has its rear wall 30 disposed parallel to the rear end wall 16 of the outer tray member. The flange which depends from the top wall 18 of the closure member 6 is pivotally movable therewith from a first position, shown in solid line in FIG- URE 3, parallel to the rear wall of the inner tray member 8, to a second position angularly disposed with respect to the wall 30. The flange 25, as shown in phantom in FIGURE 3, is engageable with the rear wall 30 of the inner tray member 8, and thus, as the closure or cover member 6 is moved from its position shown in FIGURE 1 to its position shown in FIGURE 2, the flange 25 pushes the inner tray member 8 toward the open end of the outer tray member, or to the end of the outer tray member opposite the rear wall 16 thereof.

The side walls of the inner tray member 8 and outer tray member 10 are disposed in adjacent and parallel relationship to one another, and it is by virtue of this disposition that the provision of elongated recesses 34 on the side walls 12 and 14, and cooperating projections on the side walls 2% permits the reciprocal mounting of the inner tray member on or within the outer tray member.

Preferably the inner tray member 8, as shown, has substantially less length than the outer tray member 4. However, when cards are disposed on the inner tray member 8 and the same is moved forwardly, then such cards move to a position where they extend past the open end of the outer tray member or housing. Particular reference is here made to FIGURE 3. In such figure, the dotted line A designates the front edge of a deck of cards carried by the inner tray member 3 when the same is in its rearmost position, and the cards are completely within the confines of the outer tray member 4. The dotted line B designates the front edge of the same deck of cards after the case 2 has been opened, and the inner tray member 8 has been moved forwardly to its frontmost position. It will be noted that with forward movement of the inner tray member 8, a substantial portion of the front edge of a deck of cards is exposed, whereby the side front edge portions of the cards can be conveniently gripped for removal of the deck from the case.

The distance d which the cards move should be correlated to the distance D which the inner tray member 8 moves. Thus, the length of the elongated slots 32 should be suificient to permit reciprocal movement of the inner tray member 8 over a distance D. With proper correlation of the inner and outer tray members to a deck of normal playing cards, this distance will be such that the deck is moved forwardly with opening of the case by at least the distance d shown in FIGURE 3. Of course, in any instance, D equals 0!.

To insure locking of the case 2 in closed condition, as shown in FIGURE 1, the front wall 20 of the cover or closure member 6 carries an inturned bottom projecting flange 40, which, as shown in FIGURE 3, is adapted to be frictionally engaged under the bottom wall 10 of the outer tray member 4. Inwardly curved flange 40 is dimensioned so that essentially it makes a press fit with the bottom wall 10. Notwithstanding the provision of such flange, however, it should be understood that any other suitable means for maintaining the cover in closed posi tion can be incorporated in the device hereof. The flange 40 merely provides a simple and efficient means for achieving the desired result, and it is for this reason that the same is incorporated in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Although a single rectangular case has been shown and described in the drawings, various modifications can be made thereto. For example, the case may be constructed as two openable units with a common intermediate wall between the units. For example, if constructed as a double case, the wall 4 might serve as aside wall for two compartments of the case. Alternatively, the case may be constructed as a double unit with a single closure member 6, in which event, separate flange elements 25 can be incorporated on any pivot shaft, or in depending relation to the particular cover or closure member 6 for each compartment. These modifications are but illustrative of different assemblies which can be made by utilizing the basic concepts of the instant invention.

After reading the foregoing detailed description of an illustrative and preferred embodiment of the instant invention, it will be appreciated that the objects set forth at the outset of the present specification have been successfully achieved. Accordingly, what is claimed is:

A card case comprising:

(a) an outer tray member, said outer tray member having a longitudinally extending base wall, upstanding side walls of a first length and a rear end wall;

(b) a closure member for said outer tray member, said closure member comprising a top wall and a front wall depending from one edge of said top wall;

(0) pivot means pivotally mounting said closure member on said side walls of said outer tray member immediately adjacent said rear end wall for pivotal (d) an inner tray member reciprocally mounted in said outer tray member, said inner tray member having C3 member toward said end of said outer tray member opposite said rear wall;

(g) elongated recesses in the side Walls of one of said tray members facing the side Walls of said other tray member, and projections on the side walls of said other tray member extending into said recesses respectively whereby to reciprocally mount said inner tray member within said outer tray member;

(h) said front wall carrying means cooperable with said base wall to maintain said closure member in said first position.

a rear wall extending parallel to said rear end wall of said outer tray member and side walls having a 10 length less than said first length and being disposed adjacent and parallel to said side walls of said outer tray member;

(:2) a flange depending from said top wall of said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS closure member, disposed between the rear walls of 15 1348285 Brand 1912 said outer tray member and said inner tray member 1827396 Luckett 1931 and being pivotally movable therewith from a posi- FOREIGN PATENTS tion parallel to said rear wall of said inner tray mem- 433,925 France Jan 19, 1912 ber to a position angularly disposed thereto; 20 163 124 Great B i i M 12, 1921 (1) said flange being engageable with said rear Wall 408,155 Great Britain Apr. 5, 1934 of said inner tray member to push said inner tray 913,694 France June 3, 1946

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