DEVICE AND ASSEMBLY FOR FLIPPING CARDS AND METHOD OF USE

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to card games where cards are upturned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A popular game particularly among children involves using cupped hands to direct a blast of air to the base of a pack of cards placed face down on a table or other flat surface, so as to upturn as many of the cards as possible. The player who exposes the most cards from the pack is the winner.

[0003] It can be challenging to produce an air blast of sufficient strength using cupped hands.

[0004] Document US-B1-7927177 discloses a device comprising all the technical features set out in the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] US Patent No. 5,624,121 discloses a game comprising a plurality of rigid playing discs stacked one on top of another, each player being provided with a turn for striking a topmost one of the playing discs towards a periphery thereof so as thereby to upturn a number of the playing discs in the stack, the player claiming for himself those discs whose upper surface is downmost. An object of the game is to maximize the number of upturned playing discs.

[0006] US2014287392 discloses a board game instrument including at least two projectiles, a launch pad, at least two baskets, a game board, and at least two magic cards. The projectiles are thrown in a basket using a launch pad, which launches the projectile using an elastic force.

[0007] US Patent No. 2,187,524 discloses game which utilizes a projector device, projectiles and a variably configured target area containing a plurality of individual targets.

[0008] None of these prior art games discloses a device that causes a blast of air to upturn cards from a stack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An object of the invention is to provide a device or accessory that may be used instead of cupping one's hands to a similar effect.

[0010] This object is achieved by a device for flipping stacked cards from a first position to an opposite second position according to claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1a shows pictorially a device according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 1b shows a sectional elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1a resting on a flat surface;

Fig. 2 shows schematically use of the device shown in Fig. 1a for flipping cards from a first position to a second position shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 4a shows pictorially a device according to a second embodiment;

Fig. 4b shows a sectional elevation of the device shown in Fig. 4a resting on a flat surface;

Fig. 5 shows pictorially a device according to a third embodiment;

Fig. 6a shows pictorially components of a two-part assembly according to a fourth embodiment;

Fig. 6b shows schematically use of the assembly shown in Fig. 6a;

Fig. 7a shows pictorially components of a two-part assembly according to a first variation of the fourth embodiment;

Fig. 7b shows schematically use of the assembly shown in Fig. 7a;

Fig. 8a shows pictorially components of a two-part assembly according to a second variation of the fourth embodiment; and

Fig. 8b shows schematically use of the assembly shown in Fig. 8a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0012] In the following description of some embodiments, identical components that appear in more than one figure or that share similar functionality will be referenced by identical reference symbols.

[0013] With reference to the figures, there is shown a device 10 for flipping stacked cards 11 from a first position shown in Fig. 2 to an opposite second position shown in Fig. 3. Typically, in the first position the cards are face down and in the second position they are exposed, but the game according to the invention may be played with the cards initially exposed since the game's skill resides in the player's ability to flip as many cards from the stack as possible.

[0014] In a first embodiment shown in Figs. 1a and 1b, the device 10 comprises a flexible hollow cup-shaped member 12, typically formed of rubber or plastic having a base portion 13 defining a rim 14, and a recess 15 formed in a portion of the rim so that when the base portion is placed on a generally flat surface 16, a single elongated recess 15 forms an opening 17 that allows air to pass through when pressure is applied to an outer surface of the cup-shaped member.

[0015] The device 10 may be used to play a game for flipping cards, whose rules comprise:

(a) placing a stack of cards on a generally flat surface 16;

(b) disposing the device in close proximity to the stack of cards with the recess facing the cards; and

(c) exerting pressure on an outer surface of the device so as to direct a blast of air toward a base of the stack of cards and thereby flip cards from a first position to an opposite second position.

[0016] The player who flips the most cards is the winner.

[0017] Typically, a player exerts pressure by pushing on the outer surface of the device with his or her hands 18.

[0018] Figs. 4a and 4b depict a second embodiment where instead of only a single recess, multiple recesses 15 are formed in the rim of the cup-shaped member 12 thus forming multiple openings 17 when the device is placed on the surface 16.

[0019] Fig. 5 depicts a third embodiment wherein small apertures 19 are formed around a periphery of the cup-shaped member 12 toward the rim 14. The apertures 19 form openings through air passes when pressure is applied to the outer surface of the cup-shaped member 12. A single elongated aperture or slot as shown in Fig. 8a may also be used either on its own or in conjunction with a recess 15.

[0020] Figs. 6a and 7a show pictorially a two-part assembly 20 according to variations of a fourth embodiment prior to assembly and Figs. 6b and 7b show the respective assemblies during use. In effect, the fourth embodiment uses the same device 10 as described above with reference to Figs. 1 and 5 but instead of placing the device 10 on a flat surface, such as a table, with the apertures 19 or recesses 15 proximate the table, the device 10 is disposed with the apertures 19 or recesses 15 uppermost thus forming a compressible hollow cup with the apertures 19 or recesses 15 close to its rim 14. A second compressible cup-shaped plunger element 21 of diameter slightly larger than that of the device 10 is now assembled on top of the device 10 and may optionally be sealed or otherwise joined thereto. When pressure is brought to bear on the plunger element 21, air is pushed out of the apertures 19 or recesses 15 with sufficient pressure to upturn a pack of cards in its vicinity.

[0021] Figs. 8a and 8a show pictorially a two-part assembly 20 according to another variation of the fourth embodiment prior to and during assembly, respectively. This variation is similar to that shown in Figs. 6a and 6b except that instead of forming a plurality of apertures there is formed a single elongated slot 22. The different variations may be combined so that, for example, the lower device 10 may have both apertures and a recess or an elongated slot and a recess.

[0022] It has been found experimentally that the first embodiment works particularly effectively and allows a skilled player to upturn all the cards in an average stack. The second and third embodiments were less effective although they did succeed in upturning many if not most of the cards in the stack. The fourth embodiment was also found to be extremely effective. The effectiveness of the apertures in Fig. 5 depends on how close they are located to the rim since this determines to what extent air reaches the lower surface of the card stack. If air does not succeed in forcing its way underneath the bottom of the stack, then the bottom cards in the stack will not be flipped.

[0023] It should be noted that while the invention has been described with particular reference to regular playing cards as shown pictorially in Figs. 2 and 3, no such limitation is implied. Thus, the device according to the embodiment may be used in conjunction with other types of cards, such as those collected by children as well as a labels, sticky labels having a removable backing and used prior to removal thereof, and any other card having visually distinguished upper and lower surfaces. Likewise, while the recesses are shown as having arcuate contours, again no limitation is implied and good results have been achieved in practice using rectangular-shaped recesses.

Claims

1. A device (10) for flipping stacked cards from a first position to an opposite second position, the device comprising a flexible hollow cup-shaped member (12) having a base portion (13) defining a rim (14), and at least one recess (15) or aperture; characterized in that:
the at least one recess (15) or aperture is formed in or proximate a portion of the rim so that when the base portion is placed on a generally flat surface (16), there is formed at least one opening (17) that allows air to pass through when pressure is applied to an outer surface of the cup-shaped member, and to direct a blast of air toward a base of a stack of cards disposed on said surface proximate the at least one opening, and thereby flip the cards from the first position to the second position.

2. The device according to claim 1, having a single elongated recess formed in the rim of the cup-shaped member.

3. The device according to claim 1, having multiple recesses formed in the rim of the cup-shaped member.

4. The device according to claim 1, having multiple apertures formed in the cup-shaped member proximate the rim.

5. The device according to claim 1, having at least one elongated aperture formed in the cup-shaped member proximate the rim.

6. An assembly (20) comprising the device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims and a plunger element (21) that is configured to push air out through the recess (15) and/or apertures (19) of the device.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the device and the plunger element are joined to form a unitary construction.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the device and the plunger element are sealed.

9. The assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein a rim of the plunger element has a diameter slightly larger than that of the device.

10. The assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the at least one aperture includes an elongated slot (22).

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung (10) zum Umdrehen gestapelter Karten von einer ersten Position in eine entgegengesetzte zweite Position, wobei die Vorrichtung ein flexibles, hohles, becherförmiges Element (12) mit einem Basisteil (13), das einen Rand (14) definiert, und zumindest einer Aussparung (15) oder Öffnung aufweist;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:
die zumindest eine Aussparung (15) oder Öffnung in oder in der Nähe eines Abschnitts des Randes ausgebildet ist, so dass, wenn der Basisteil auf einer im Allgemeinen flachen Oberfläche (16) platziert wird, zumindest eine Öffnung (17) ausgebildet wird, die es ermöglicht, dass Luft hindurchtritt, wenn Druck auf eine äußere Oberfläche des becherförmigen Elements ausgeübt wird, und um einen Luftstoß in Richtung einer Basis eines Kartenstapels zu lenken, der auf der Oberfläche in der Nähe der zumindest einen Öffnung angeordnet ist, und dadurch die Karten von der ersten Position in die zweite Position zu drehen.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, die eine einzige längliche Aussparung, die im Rand des becherförmigen Elements ausgebildet ist, aufweist.

3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, die mehrere Aussparungen im Rand des becherförmigen Elements aufweist.

4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, die mehrere in dem becherförmigen Element in der Nähe des Randes ausgebildete Öffnungen aufweist.

5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, die zumindest eine in dem becherförmigen Element in der Nähe des Randes ausgebildete längliche Öffnung aufweist.

6. Baugruppe (20), die die Vorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche und ein Saugglockenelement (21), das dazu ausgebildet ist, Luft durch die Aussparung (15) und/oder Öffnungen (19) der Vorrichtung herauszudrücken, aufweist.

7. Baugruppe nach Anspruch 6, wobei die Vorrichtung und das Saugglockenelement miteinander verbunden sind, um eine einheitliche Konstruktion zu bilden.

8. Baugruppe nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Vorrichtung und das Saugglockenelement abgedichtet sind.

9. Baugruppe nach einem der Ansprüche 6 bis 8, wobei ein Rand des Saugglockenelements einen geringfügig größeren Durchmesser als der der Vorrichtung aufweist.

10. Baugruppe nach einem der Ansprüche 6 bis 9, wobei die zumindest eine Öffnung einen länglichen Schlitz (22) aufweist.

Revendications

1. Dispositif (10) pour retourner des cartes empilées à partir d'une première position dans une seconde position, opposée, le dispositif comprenant un élément creux souple (12) en forme de coupe ayant une partie de base (13) formant un bord (14) et au moins une cavité (15) ou ouverture,
dispositif caractérisé en ce que
au moins la cavité (15) ou l'ouverture est formée dans une partie du bord à proximité de celui-ci de façon que lorsque la partie de base est placée sur une surface généralement plane (16), on forme au moins une ouverture (17) permettant à l'air de passer à travers, lorsqu'une pression est appliquée sur une surface extérieure de l'élément en forme de coupe et dirige ainsi un jet d'air vers la base de la pile de la cartes placée sur la surface proche d'au moins une ouverture et ainsi on retourne les cartes de la première position dans la seconde position.

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1,
comportant une seule cavité allongée formée dans le bord de l'élément en forme de coupe.

3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1,
ayant des cavités multiples réalisées dans le bord de l'élément en forme de coupe.

4. Dispositif selon la revendication 1,
comportant de multiples orifices réalisés dans l'élément en forme de coupe à proximité du bord.

5. Dispositif selon la revendication 1,
comportant au moins un orifice allongé réalisé dans l'élément en forme de coupe à proximité du bord.

6. Ensemble (20) comprenant le dispositif (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes et un élément plongeur (21) configuré pour pousser de l'air vers l'extérieur à travers la cavité (15) et/ou les ouvertures (19) du dispositif.

7. Ensemble selon la revendication 6,
dans lequel
le dispositif et l'élément plongeur sont réunis pour former une structure unique.

8. Ensemble selon la revendication 7,
dans lequel
le dispositif et l'élément plongeur sont scellés.

9. Ensemble selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 8,
dans lequel
le bord de l'élément plongeur a un diamètre légèrement supérieur à celui du dispositif.

10. Ensemble selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 9,
dans lequel
au moins une ouverture est comprise dans la fente allongée (22).

Drawing