METHOD OF UTILIZING STANDARDIZED PUNCH CARDS AS PUNCH CODED AND VISUALLY MARKED PLAYING CARDS

• US 3,751,041 A
• Filed: 03/05/1971
• Issued: 08/07/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas G. Seifert
• Original Assignee: Thomas G. Seifert
• Inventors: Seifert, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oechsle, Anton O.
• Application Number:
  US05/121,469
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 273/149P,152.1 209/110,110.5 235/61.12R
• US Class Current: 273/149.00P
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/02 Cards; Special shapes of cards card-printing methods B41K, B41M

Abstract

The method of formation of playing cards from a standardized codable card which is readable with automated data processing equipment such that the playing cards may be more readily sorted and/or susceptible of game playing analysis through use of conventional computational equipment. The coded playing cards constructed in accordance with the invention are particularly suitable for use in duplicate bridge games, e.g., large-scale tournament competition, but the invention also contemplates more limited usage with provision of individual playing card deck sensing devices suitable for home use or casual play.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing standardized data processing punch cards of predetermined size and shape as playing cards so that the cards are susceptible of both automated processing and manual play, the method comprising:

selecting a plurality of standardized system/3 data processing cards equal to a complete deck of playing cards;

designating and punching each of a plurality of said data processing punch cards to indicate a predetermined card value and card suit;

marking permanently visually on one side of each of said data processing punch cards the predetermined different card value and card suit; and

providing further code indicia by punching each card in a predetermined manner thereby to identify for each card that north, east, south or west hand position which receives the card for a predetermined card game.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 which is further characterized to include the step of:

providing still further code indicia by punching each card in a predetermined manner identifiable with said different card suit and card value designations.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of providing further code indicia also comprises:

designating for punch indicia a plurality of plural row columns where each column of each punch card receives characteristic code punch designating the hand position to receive the card, and a selected column for all cards represents a different predetermined card game distribution.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 which includes 96 plural row column designators each identifying a different card game distribution.

5. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plural row columns each consist of a column of four row punch positions for binary representation of the hand position receiving the designated card.

6. A method as set forth in claim 3 which is further characterized to include the step of:

providing still further code indicia by punching each card in a predetermined manner identifiable with said different card suit and card value designations.

7. In an automated electronic data processing system responsive to input of standardized punch cards of predetermined size and shape, which are also used for manual card game play, the method of:

designating, punching and permanently visually marking 52 of said punch cards with predetermined different ones of 13 card values and four card suits;

providing a plurality of four-row columns on each of said playing cards, each of said four-row columns having one of four rows punched to indicate the North, East, South or West hand which retains the card for a predetermined card game distribution which is represented by that particular column.

8. In the method of claim 7, the further step comprising:

providing still further code indicia by punching each card in a predetermined manner identifiable with said different card suit and card value designations.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said punch card is an IBM System/3 data processing card.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said punch card has 96 four-row columns each coded binarily to identify hand position for a predetermined contract bridge game.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said punch card has one four-row column binarily coded to designate card suit, four four-row columns binarily coded to designate card value, and the remaining ones of the four-row columns binarily coded to identify hand position for a predetermined contract bridge game.