Card holder

Abstract

An apparatus for one of keeping piles of playing cards neat and organized during card games and for storing such playing cards when not in use. The apparatus comprises a central portion for holding at least a portion of a deck of cards and having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size and formed of a predetermined material. The central portion has four walls, each wall having an opening disposed in a predetermined location on each wall. There is at least one pair of outer compartments for holding at least a portion of a deck of cards and engageable with and disposed on opposite sides of the central portion. Each outer compartment having three walls and one wall of each of the pair of outer compartment is commonly shared with a wall of the central portion. Each wall opposite the wall commonly shared with the central portion has a finger cutout in a predetermined location of each wall for providing an easy access for picking up a card from the deck of cards, wherein the wall commonly shared has a width at least sufficient for grasping at least a portion of such deck of cards with one of a thumb and forefinger.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/885,725 filed Jan. 19, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to playing cards, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a holder for playing cards including a discard pile, such holder is capable of holding multiple decks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When playing card games, more often than not, there is a discard pile. With many players in the game this pile grows quickly and the cards can easily become unorganized, with newly dealt cards and the discarded ones accidentally mixing together. If a player accidentally bumps the playing surface, cards can go flying. In addition, while many people may suggest a quick game of cards as a fun way to pass some time, for many people finding a complete deck of cards are somehow never found when they are needed.

Thus, it would be advantageous if there were a means for holding cards including a discard pile during a game of cards and also can store the cards when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for one of keeping piles of playing cards neat and organized during card games and for storing such playing cards when not in use. The apparatus comprises a central portion for holding at least a portion of a deck of cards and having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size and formed of a predetermined material. The central portion has four walls, each wall having an opening disposed in a predetermined location on each wall. There is at least one pair of outer compartments for holding at least a portion of a deck of cards and engageable with and disposed on opposite sides of the central portion of the apparatus. Each outer compartment having three walls and one wall of each of the pair of outer compartment is commonly shared with a wall of the four walls of the central portion. Each wall opposite the wall commonly shared with the central portion has a finger cutout in a predetermined location of each wall for providing an easy access for picking up a card from the at least a portion of such deck of cards, wherein the wall commonly shared between the central portion and the at least one pair of outer compartments has a width at least sufficient for grasping at least a portion of such deck of cards with one of a thumb and forefinger.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus for keeping cards, including a discard pile, neat and organized and easily accessible during a game of cards.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that is capable of holding multiple decks of playing cards.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus than can store decks of playing cards when not in use, thereby keeping full decks together.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that is capable of holding multiple decks of playing cards that is relatively inexpensive.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the invention which have been described in some specific detail above it should be noted that various other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description, particularly when such description is taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with each compartment having at least a portion of a deck of cards disposed therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, for keeping piles of playing cards neat and organized during card games and for storing such playing cards when not in use. The apparatus 10 comprises a central portion 2 for holding at least a portion of a deck of cards. Such central portion 2 has each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size and is formed of a predetermined material. Such central portion 2 has four walls 4. Each wall having an opening 6 disposed in a center portion of such each wall 4.

There is at least a pair of outer compartments 8 for holding at least a portion of a deck of cards. Such pair of outer compartments 8 are engageable with and disposed on opposite sides of the central portion 2. Each of the outer compartments 8 have three walls 12 and one wall 12 of each of the outer compartments 8 is commonly shared with a wall 4 of such central portion 2. Each wall 12 opposite the wall 4,12 commonly shared with the central portion 2 has a finger cutout 14 in a predetermined location of such each wall 12 opposite the wall 4,12 commonly shared for providing easy access for picking up a card from the deck of cards disposed therein.

Such wall 4,12 commonly shared between the central portion 2 and the outer compartments 8 has a width at least sufficient for grasping at least a portion of such deck of cards with a thumb and forefinger.

The predetermined location of such finger cutout 14 of each wall 14 of the pair of walls 12 opposite the commonly shared wall 4,12 is radially opposed from the opening 6 disposed in the predetermined location of the central portion 2. Such predetermined location of the opening 6 in the commonly shared wall 4,12 is a center portion of the wall 4,12.

Such finger cutout portion 14 has a tapered surface extending downwardly from a base of the one pair of outer compartments 8 toward an outer edge thereof.

The apparatus further includes a second pair of outer compartments 16 for holding at least a portion of a deck of cards. Such second pair of outer compartments 16 are engageable with and disposed on opposite sides of the central portion 2 of the apparatus 10, such second pair of outer compartments 16 are disposed on opposite sides of the central portion 2 that do not have the pair of compartments 8 disposed thereon thereby forming the apparatus in a cross shape.

Each wall 12 of the second pair of compartments opposite the wall commonly shared 4,22 with the central portion 2 has a finger cutout 18 in a predetermined location of each wall 22 opposite wall commonly shared 4,22 for providing easy access for picking up a card from the at least a portion of such deck of cards 5.

The predetermined location of the finger cutout 18 of each wall 22 of the second pair of outer compartments 16 opposite the commonly shared wall 4,22 is radially opposed from the opening 6 disposed in the predetermined location in the commonly shared wall 4,22.

The finger cutout portion 18 has a tapered surface extending downwardly from a base of the second pair of outer compartments 16 toward an outer edge thereof.

Each wall 4 of the central portion 2 is beveled. The bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of the wall 4 to a base of the central portion 2.

The pair of four walls 4,12 that are commonly shared have a double bevel, one bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of each commonly shared wall to a base of said central portion and the other bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of each commonly shared wall 4,12 to a base of the at least one pair of outer compartments 8.

The three walls of each of the at least one pair of outer compartments 8 have a bevel, The bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of each wall to a base of the one pair of outer compartments 8.

Each of the second pair of outer compartments 16 have a commonly shared wall 4,22 with the central portion 2. The other three walls 22 of the second pair of outer compartments 16 that are not commonly shared with the central portion 2 have a bevel. The bevel extends downwardly and inwardly from a top of each wall of such three walls 22 to the base of the second pair of outer compartments 16.

The pair of four walls 22 of the second pair of outer compartments 16 that are commonly shared with the central portion 2 have a double bevel, one bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of each commonly shared wall to the base of the central portion 2 and the other bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of each commonly shared wall 4,22 to the base of the second pair of outer compartments 16.

Each of the second pair of outer compartments 16 include a finger cutout portion, the finger cutout portion 18 of each of the second pair of outer compartments 16 is radially opposed from the opening 6 disposed in the center portion of the central portion 2. Such finger cutout portion 18 has a tapered surface extending downwardly toward an outer edge of the outer wall 22 of the second pair of outer compartments 16.

Such predetermined material for forming the apparatus 10 is selected from one of wood and plastic. Such apparatus can be constructed of fine wood for a very fancy apparatus 10 or it can be made of molded plastic for an inexpensive unit. It is presently preferred that such apparatus 10 is made of plastic.

Thus, the present invention provides a card holder (apparatus) that will hold and store playing cards, keeping them neat, organized and accessible. The card holder is cross shaped, with four outer compartments that surround the center compartment. Each compartment has roomy finger cutouts on both the inner and outer edges to provide a better grip when picking up a card or removing a deck for shuffling. Each of the box shaped compartments have beveled edges. All of the compartments are approximately ¾ inch deep and are capable of holding an entire deck of cards. The apparatus can be made of fine wood to make a high end product or it can be easily formed of molded plastic for a relatively inexpensive unit. The apparatus is especially helpful for games that use both a stock (pickup) pile and discard piles, such as some rummy games, Skip-Bo or canasta.

While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for one of keeping piles of playing cards neat and organized during card games and for storing such playing cards when not in use, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a central portion for holding at least a portion of a deck of cards and having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size and formed of a predetermined material, said central portion having four walls, each wall having an opening disposed in a predetermined location of said each wall; and

(b) at least one pair of outer compartments for holding at least a portion of a deck of cards and engageable with and disposed on opposite sides of said central portion of said apparatus, each outer compartment having three walls and one wall of each of said pair of said outer compartment is commonly shared with a wall of said four walls of said central portion, each wall opposite said wall commonly shared with said central portion has a finger cutout in a predetermined location of said each wall opposite said wall commonly shared for providing an easy access for picking up a card from said at least a portion of such deck of cards, wherein said wall commonly shared between said central portion and said at least one pair of outer compartments has a width at least sufficient for grasping at least a portion of such deck of cards with one of a thumb and forefinger.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined location of said finger cutout of said each wall of said pair of walls opposite said commonly shared wall is radially opposed from said opening disposed in said predetermined location of said commonly shared wall.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined location of said opening in said commonly shared wall is a center portion of said commonly shared wall.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said finger cutout portion has a tapered surface extending downwardly from a base of said at least one pair of outer compartments toward an outer edge thereof.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes a second pair of outer compartments for holding at least a portion of a deck of cards engageable with and disposed on opposite sides of said central portion of said apparatus, said second pair of compartments disposed on said opposite sides of said central portion that do not have said at least one pair of compartments disposed thereon thereby forming said apparatus in a cross shape.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein each wall of said second pair of compartments opposite said commonly shared wall with said central portion has a finger cutout in a predetermined location of said each wall opposite said wall commonly shared for providing easy access for picking up a card from said at least a portion of such deck of cards.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined location of said finger cutout of said each wall of said second pair of outer compartments opposite said commonly shared wall is radially opposed from said opening disposed in said predetermined location of said commonly shared wall.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said finger cutout portion has a tapered surface extending downwardly from a base of said second pair of outer compartment toward an outer edge thereof.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said each wall of said central portion is beveled, said bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of said each wall to a base of said central portion.

10. The apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said pair of said four walls of said one pair of outer compartments that are commonly shared with said central portion have a double bevel, one bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of each commonly shared wall to a base of said central portion and an other bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of said each commonly shared wall to a base of said at least one pair of outer compartments.

11. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said three walls of each at least one pair of outer compartments have a bevel, said bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of said each wall to a base of said one pair of outer compartments.

12. The apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein each of said second pair of outer compartments have a commonly shared wall with said central portion.

13. The apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein three walls of said second pair of outer compartments that are not commonly shared with said central portion have a bevel, said bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of each wall of said three walls to a base of said second pair of outer compartments.

14. The apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein said pair of said four walls of said second pair of outer compartments that are commonly shared with said central portion have a double bevel, one bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of each commonly shared wall to a base of said central portion and an other bevel extending downwardly and inwardly from a top of said each commonly shared wall to a base of said second pair of outer compartments.

15. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is formed of one of wood and plastic.

16. The apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein said apparatus is formed of plastic.