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(11) | EP 0 120 826 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Container intended for the storage of cards |
| (57) Container intended for the storage of cards, comprising two component parts capable
of interacting with each other, being a storage component (2) and an upper component
(3). The storage component (2) is so executed at one of its walls (2a) as to exhibit
a supporting surface (4a) intended to accommodate the edges of the cards. The upper
component (3) is so executed in connection with the supporting surface (4a) as to
exhibit a recess (3a) enabling cards (5) with their edges (5a) resting against the
supporting surface (4a) to be so arranged asto extendthrough the recess (3a). |
TECHNICAL FIELD.
[0001] The present invention relates to a container intended for the storage of cards, and in particular to such a container comprising two component parts capable of interacting with each other, these being a storage component intended for the cards and an upper component serving as a lid.
[0002] The expression 'card' as used in the present application shall, of course, be understood to denote every type of material in sheet form, although the invention finds a particular application where a number of cards is caused to form a batch, said cards thus being capable with advantage of exhibiting different markings one from the other, thereby forming a card index, a pack of cards, or a number of cards for bidding when playing bridge, etc.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART.
[0003] Previously disclosed is a large number of different types of container intended for the storage of a number of cards assembled together as a batch, and as an example of the prior art mention may be made of a container intended for a number of playing cards comprising two component parts capable of interacting with each other, these being a storage component intended for the storage of the playing cards and an upper component serving as a Lid, said storage component and said upper component being capable of being caused to interact with each other by causing the walls of the upper component to enclose corresponding walls on the storage component.
[0004] Also previously disclosed is the arrangement of a container for a number of cards exhibiting different markings one from the other so as to form a card index and/or register cards, said cards being stored in the container in a position and attitude appropriate to their use.
[0005] Mention may finally be made of a storage arrangement for cards so designed as to facilitate bidding when playing bridge, comprising one pocket with a compartment which is open towards the top to accommodate a set of suit cards and no-trump cards and a second pocket for a collection of pass cards, double cards and re-double cards.
[0006] This Latter arrangement is iLLustrated and described in Swedish Patent Specification 191 485.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION.
TECHNICAL PROBLEM.
[0007] Having regard for the prior art a complicated technical problem is encountered in connection with the creation of such conditions, when designing a container for a number of cards, as will permit said container to store the cards in a simple fashion when the cards are not in use, but also to hold the cards in a simple fashion in such a way that any markings present on the cards will be clearly visible. In the Latter case the container should serve as a support for the cards.
[0008] A further technical problem is the creation of such conditions when designing the container as will permit the cards, when they are being stored in the container, to be brought together into a compact unit, without the need for any markings present on the cards to be visible, although when the cards are placed in such a way that they are to be held by the container the cards shall then be distributed and displaced relative to each other in such a way that any markings present on the cards will become clearly visible.
[0009] Another major technical problem encountered in connection with a container of the nature described above is the creation of conditions such that the container shall be able to hold and store two types of card separate from each other. Provided that the container is so designed as to be capable of holding two different types of card, each constituting a batch or a set of playing cards, then it is desirable for the container to be given a form such that both types of card are visible in a straightforward manner, and in particular any markings present on the respective cards, when these are placed in such a way that they are to be held by the container in two positions which are separate from each other.
[0010] The present invention is based on the understanding that a number of cards, together forming a batch, shall be allocated different heights one from the other, and that the difference in the heights of cards situated next to each other need not exceed the size of the marking on the respective cards, but that such conditions shall be created when the cards are placed in the container as will cause the cards to be distributed automatically and displaced in such a way that the markings on the cards will become visible.
[0011] A further technical problem also encountered in conjunction with the aforementioned requirements is providing the container with a design such that the batch or batches of cards contained inside the container is/are able, in spite of the fact that the internal dimensions of the container only slightly exceed the dimensions of the cards, to create conditions such that the batches of cards may be removed from the container in a straightforward fashion.
[0012] A major technical problem, in particular when the container is to contain two batches of cards which are separate from each other, concerns on the one hand creating conditions such that said batches of cards will be kept separate from each other, and on the other hand creating conditions such that both batches of cards may be removed from the container simultaneously.
SOLUTION.
[0013] The present invention proposes a container intended for the storage of cards, comprising two component parts capable of interacting with each other, these being known as the storage component and the upper component. In accordance with the present invention the storage component shall be so executed at one of its walls as to exhibit a supporting surface intended to accommodate the edges of the cards, and the upper component shall be so executed in connection with the supporting surface as to exhibit a recess, enabling cards with their edges resting against the supporting surface to be so arranged as to extend through the recess.
[0014] The present invention also proposes that a number of cards, together forming a batch, may be allocated different respective heights, said difference between cards situated next to each other being less than the size of any marking applied to the respective cards, and that in order that the entire marking shall be visible when the batches of cards are put in the container in such a way that the container forms a support for the batches of cards, the card to which the smallest height has been allocated shall rest against the base and the card with the greatest height shall rest against the supporting surface adjacent to the waLL.
[0015] The supporting surface may in this case be given a flat shape at the base of the container or a stepped shape with the tread being aLLocated a depth corresponding to the thickness of the card.
[0016] The base may also be executed with advantage so as to exhibit a flat raised second supporting surface and running from it obliquely to said opposite wall of the storage component a third supporting surface.
[0017] The second supporting surface is intended to support a second number of cards, forming a batch during storage, whilst the third supporting surface is intended to support the edges of the cards, said cards being so arranged as to extend through an additional recess in the upper component.
[0018] In order to provide sufficiently secure storage of the cards in the container, there is arranged between the second supporting component and the first supporting component a stop, so dimensioned that the stop projects beyond the uppermost surface of the second batch of cards and thus provides a support for the first batch of cards.
[0019] A particularly suitable embodiment involves causing the container to be executed in principle as an ordinary container for packs of cards, but causing the supporting surfaces to be executed in the form of a number of narrow sheets or a flat surface which does not extend between opposing edges. The sheets closest to the opposite walls or the opposing edges of the flat surface are situated at a distance from the respective wall of the container.
ADVANTAGES.
[0020] Those advantages which may principally be regarded as being associated with a container in accordance with the present invention are that the container does not serve only as a storage space for cards which have been collected together into a batch, but that the container also serves as a support for the cards when these adopt a position such as will permit any markings present on the cards to be made visible in a simple fashion.
[0021] A further advantage of the present invention is that two batches of cards containing different cards may be kept in the container without the necessity for the cards to become mixed together. Finally, the container has been executed in such a way that a pack of cards which is being kept in the storage part of the container can be removed from the container in an extremely simple fashion, in spite of the fact that the internal dimensions of the container exceed the dimensions of the cards by only a small amount.
[0022] What may be regarded as the principal characteristic features of a container intended for the storage of cards in accordance with the present invention and which comprises two component parts capable of interacting with each other, these being a storage component intended for the cards and an upper component serving as a cover, are the significant characteristics indicated in the first characterizing part of the Patent CLaim.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
[0023] Two preferred embodiments proposed here, which exhibit the significant characteristic features of the present invention, are described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 shows a section through a first embodiment of a container intended not only to illustrate that two different batches of cards can occupy separate positions in the container, but also to illustrate how these batches of cards are capable of adopting a position permitting any markings thereon to be seen clearly;
Figure 2 shows a plan view of the container in accordance with Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section through the container in accordance with Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a section through a second embodiment of a container;
Figure 5 shows the design of a supporting surface on an enlarged scale;
Figure 6 shows a plan view of the container in accordance with Figure 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TWO PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.
[0024] Shown here with reference to Figure 1 are a cross-section and a side view of a first embodiment of a container 1 , comprising two component parts capable of interacting with each other, one of these being a storage component 2 intended as a storage space for the cards and the other being an upper component 3 serving as a cover. The storage component 2 exhibits four walls 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d and a base 2e . The walls are so designed as to be capable of interacting with the upper part, for which purpose special guide strips are formed on the upper part.
[0025] The storage component 2 is so executed at one of its walls 2a as to exhibit a supporting surface 4 intended to accommodate the edges of the cards extending from that part 2a' which faces the upper component 3 obliquely towards the base 2e of the storage component 2 , and the upper component 3 is so executed in connection with the supporting surface as to exhibit a recess 3a , enabling a number of cards 5 with their edges 5a resting against the supporting surface 4a to be so arranged as to extend through the recess 3a . The supporting surface 4 may also be flat and parallel with the base 4e .
[0026] The cards which together form a batch 5 will adopt the outstretched position illustrated in the Figure when the cards are using the container 2 and the storage component as a support. When this batch of cards is being kept in the container 2 it wiLL adopt the position indicated by means of the reference designation 5' .
[0027] With the cards 5' in the position illustrated, it should be borne in mind that these cards have been allocated different respective heights, but that the difference in the height of the respective cards need not be sufficient to permit any marking present on the ends of the respective cards to be shown. In order for these markings to become fully visible, it will be necessary for the batches of cards to be displaced to a certain extent, said displacement being achieved in accordance with the invention by causing that card to which the smallest height has been allocated to rest on the base, on the part 2e' , and by causing that card with the greatest height to rest against the supporting surface 4a , adjacent to the wall 2a , said component part having been given the reference designation 4a' .
[0028] The supporting surface 4a is given a stepped form in which each tread is given a depth corresponding to the thickness of the respective card, thereby causing the edge of each card to rest against a flat surface.
[0029] The rest of the base 2e is so executed as to exhibit a flat raised second supporting surface 6a and running from it obliquely down to the lowest part of the wall 2c of the storage component a third supporting surface 7a extending towards the bottom 2e of the storage component or storage compartment.
[0030] The second supporting surface 6a is intended to support a second number of cards together forming a batch 8' during storage in the storage component 2 of the container, whilst the third supporting surface 7a is intended to support the edges 8a of the cards 8 when the batch 8 is using the storage component 2 as a supporting component, said cards being so arranged as to extend through an additional recess 3b in the upper component.
[0031] Between the second supporting component 6 and the first supporting component 4 is a stop 9 so dimensioned as to extend in height beyond the uppermost surface of the second batch of playing cards 8' , said stop thus providing a support for the first batch of playing cards 51 when this is being stored in the storage component of the container.
[0032] The supporting surfaces 4a, 6a, 7a are executed from a number of thin sheet components designated 4, 6, 7 . The sheet components, which are situated closest to the opposite walls 2b and 2d , are situated at a greater distance from the respective watt 2b, 2d than from the adjacent sheet components, which means that the two batches of playing cards 51 and 8' , when they are being stored in the storage component of the container, may be raised from the container by applying pressure in the direction of the arrow 'P' , as shown in Figure 3, thereby causing the opposite edge of the batch of playing cards to be Lifted from the upper edge surface of the storage component 2 .
[0033] The angle of inclination of the supporting surface 4a has been selected at approximately 500, although this angle is, of course, dependent on the amount of further extension required in order to make the markings on the respective cards clearly visible when the storage component of the container is being used as a supporting component. The supporting surface 7a has been given an angle of inclination of 300 or thereabouts, and in this case, too, variations are, of course, possible.
[0034] The upper component 3 has been so executed as to exhibit edges in conjunction with the recesses 3a and 3b for the purpose of providing a firm basis for the cards on the one hand and of providing a firm basis for the upper component on the other hand.
[0035] Benefits can be derived from the manufacture of all component parts in a plastics material such as impact-resistant acrylic, or alternatively ABS plastic, which means that the necessary clearance must be provided.
[0036] The specification is also based on the assumption that the supporting surface 4a has a stepped form. Nevertheless, there is nothing to prevent this supporting surface from being executed in the form of grooves, whereby the edge of each card can be accommodated in the respective groove.
[0037] The present container finds a particularly suitable application when it is used as a container for facilitating bidding when playing bridge, since the cards making up the batch of cards 5 can then be allocated markings relating to suit cards and no-trump cards, whilst the batch of cards 8 can be allocated markings relating to pass cards, double cards and re-double cards.
[0038] Figures 4 to 7 show a second embodiment, in respect of which only the significant differences will be described here.
[0039] It will be appreciated that a notch is formed in the bottom 2e . This notch 10 is intended to cause the first card in the batch of cards to drop down in such a way that said card will be held securely by the other cards at a point above its end surface, which means that the card will not attempt to climb upwards.
[0040] A significant feature of the invention, irrespective of whether the surface 4a is inclined in the manner indicated or is inclined through a smaller angle, or even if it constitutes a flat horizontal surface, is that the cards are able to rest against a stop 11 and that said stop may then be executed in the bottom 2e of the storage component 2 .
[0041] The surface 4a has been executed in this embodiment as a flat surface with the surface structure illustrated in Figure 5.
[0042] The upper component 3 is so executed in conjunction with the recess 3a as to exhibit a supporting edge 12 , and the recess 3b is so executed as to exhibit a supporting edge 13 . These supporting edges are intended to engage in the recess 14 and 15 in the bottom component, thereby ensuring the good stacking capability of these containers when placed one on top of the other.
[0043] The flat surface 4a does not extend over the entire width of the storage component, but terminates at a distance from the wall components 2d . It is thus possible to dimension the distance and the height of the supporting surface 6a in such a way that pressure applied to the set of playing cards will cause the set of playing cards to pivot about an edge 16 so that the opposite part of the set of playing cards will rise above the upper edge surface of the storage component where it can be taken hold of easily.
1. Container intended for the storage of cards comprising two component parts capable
of interacting with each other, being a storage component (2) and an upper component
(3), characterized in that the storage component (2) is so executed at one of its
walls (2a) as to exhibit a supporting surface (4a) intended to accommodate the edges
of the cards, and in that the upper component (3) is so executed in connection with
the supporting surface (4a) as to exhibit a recess (3a) enabling cards (5) with their
edges (5a) resting against the supporting surface (4a) to be so arranged as to extend
through the recess (3a).
2. Container in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that a number of
cards, together making up a batch, have been allocated different respective heights,
whereby the card to which the smallest height has been allocated rests against the
base (2e') and the card with the greatest height rests against the supporting surface
(4a) adjacent to the wall (2a).
3. Container in accordance with Patent Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the supporting
surface (4a) is given a stepped form in which each tread is given a depth corresponding
to the thickness of the card.
4. Container in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the base is
also so executed as to exhibit a flat raised second supporting surface (6a) and running
from it obliquely to said opposite wall of the storage component a third supporting
surface (7a) extending towards the bottom of the storage component.
5. Container in accordance with Patent Claim 4, characterized in that the second supporting
surface (6a) is intended to support a second number of cards (8') forming a batch
during storage, whilst the third supporting surface (7a) is intended to support the
edges (8a') of the cards (8), enabling said cards to be so arranged as to extend through
an additional recess (3b) in the upper component.
6. Container in accordance with any of the foregoing Patent Claims, characterized
in that between the second supporting component (6a) and the first is a stop (9),
so dimensioned as to extend in height beyond the upper surface of the second batch
of cards (8') and in so doing to provide a support for the first batch of cards.
7. Container in accordance with any of the foregoing Patent Claims, characterized
in that the supporting surfaces (4a, 6a, 7a) are executed in the form of a number
of narrow sheets.
8. Container in accordance with Patent CLaim 7, characterized in that those sheets
which are closest to the opposite walls are situated at a greater distance from the
respective wall than from the adjacent disc-shaped part.
9. Container in accordance with Patent CLaim 1, characterized in that the supporting
surface is executed in the form of a supporting surface extending from that part (2a')
of the wall which faces the upper component (3) obliquely towards the base (2e) of
the storage component.
10. Container in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the storage
component is so executed as to exhibit a support intended for the cards.
11. Container in accordance with any of the foregoing Patent Claims, characterized
in that the sheets are executed in the form of an unbroken surface terminating at
a distance from the walls.