Holder for playing cards

Abstract

The present invention provides card holders having a base and a plurality of vertically extending side wall(s) and/or side wall portion(s) that surround an inner card holding space between them and above the base of the holder. The card holder may also have one or more side openings for access to a stack of cards inside the holder, each being defined by pairs of spaced-apart side wall(s) and/or side wall portion(s). The base of a holder may have an elevated portion and one or more inclined portion(s) located on a lateral side(s) of the elevated portion to create at least one vertical gap between a lower edge(s) of a stack of cards in the holder and an inclined portion of the base to facilitate lifting of the stack. A holder may also have one or more slots for receiving card(s). Methods are also provided for making the card holders.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A card holder comprising:
 a base having a generally planar shape;   a plurality of vertically extending side walls, each of the plurality of side walls being approximately perpendicular to the base; and   one or more side openings, each side opening being between two neighboring spaced-apart side walls and above a respective portion of the base,   wherein the plurality of vertically extending side walls surround an inner card holding space above the base of the holder, and   wherein the base has an elevated portion and at least one inclined portion, each inclined portion being between the elevated portion and a lateral side edge of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The card holder of  claim 1 , comprising:
 two or more side openings, the two or more side openings including a first side opening and a second side opening on opposite sides of the inner card holding space.   
     
     
         3 . The card holder of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the plurality of vertically extending side walls comprise a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall,   wherein the first side opening is defined by the inner edges of the first side wall and the second side wall and a top surface of a first portion of the base, and   wherein the second side opening is defined by the inner edges of the third side wall and the fourth side wall and a top surface of a second portion of the base.   
     
     
         4 . The card holder of  claim 3 , wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are on the same side of the inner card holding space, and wherein the third side wall and the fourth side wall are on the same side of the inner card holding space. 
     
     
         5 . The card holder of  claim 3 , comprising:
 four side openings, the four side openings further comprising a third side opening and a fourth side opening on opposite sides of the inner card holding space.   
     
     
         6 . The card holder of  claim 5 , comprising:
 wherein the plurality of vertically extending side walls further comprise a fifth side wall, a sixth side wall, a seventh side wall and an eighth side wall,   wherein the third side opening is defined by the inner edges of the fifth side wall and the sixth side wall and a top surface of a third portion of the base, and   wherein the fourth side opening is defined by the inner edges of the seventh side wall and the eighth side wall and a top surface of a fourth portion of the base   
     
     
         7 . The card holder of  claim 6 , wherein the fifth side wall and the sixth side wall are on the same side of the inner card holding space, and wherein the seventh side wall and the eighth side wall are on the same side of the inner card holding space. 
     
     
         8 . The card holder of  claim 7 , wherein the first side wall and the fifth side wall are joined along a first corner edge, the second side wall and the seventh side wall are joined along a second corner edge, the third side wall and the sixth side wall are joined along a third corner edge, and the fourth side wall and the eighth side wall are joined along a fourth corner edge. 
     
     
         9 . The card holder of  claim 1 , wherein the inner card holding space is horizontally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         10 . The card holder of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vertically extending side walls are positioned at or near the lateral side edges of the base of the holder. 
     
     
         11 . The card holder of  claim 1 , wherein the top face of one or more of the plurality of vertically extending side walls are chamfered or beveled. 
     
     
         12 . The card holder of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more side projections projecting laterally outward from the base of the holder.   
     
     
         13 . The card holder of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the base comprises an elevated center portion and two inclined portions, the two inclined portions including a first inclined portion and a second inclined portion,   wherein the first inclined portion is located between the elevated center portion and a first lateral side edge of the base, and the second inclined portion is located between the elevated center portion and a second lateral side edge of the base, and   wherein the first and second lateral side edges are on opposite sides of the base.   
     
     
         14 . The card holder of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the base comprises an elevated center portion and four inclined portions, the four inclined portions further including a third inclined portion and a fourth inclined portion,   wherein the third inclined portion is located between the elevated center portion and a third lateral side edge of the base, and the fourth inclined portion is located between the elevated center portion and a fourth lateral side edge of the base, and   wherein the third and fourth lateral side edges are on opposite sides of the base.   
     
     
         15 . The card holder of  claim 1 , wherein the card holder is attached to a game board. 
     
     
         16 . A card holder comprising:
 a base having a generally planar shape;   a plurality of vertically extending side walls, each of the plurality of side walls being approximately perpendicular to the base;   a plurality of vertically extending side wall portions, each of the plurality of side wall portions being approximately perpendicular to the base;   at least one side connecting wall portion positioned between and continuous with two neighboring spaced-apart side wall portions; and   one or more side openings, each side opening being between two neighboring spaced-apart side walls or side wall portions,   wherein the plurality of vertically extending side walls and side wall portions surround an inner card holding space above the base of the holder,   wherein the plurality of side wall portions includes a first side wall portion and a second side wall portion, and wherein the at least one side connecting wall portion includes a first side connecting wall portion between and continuous with the first and second side wall portions,   wherein the one or more side openings includes a first side opening, the first side opening being defined by the inner edges of the first and second side wall portions and the first side connecting wall portion, and   wherein the base has an elevated portion and at least one inclined portion, each inclined portion being between the elevated portion and a lateral side edge of the base.   
     
     
         17 . The card holder of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the plurality of side wall portions further includes a third side wall portion and a fourth side wall portion,   wherein the at least one side connecting wall portion further includes a second side connecting wall portion between and continuous with the third and fourth side wall portions, and   wherein the one or more side openings further includes a second side opening, the second side opening being defined by the inner edges of the third and fourth side wall portions and the second side connecting wall portion.   
     
     
         18 . The card holder of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 at least one slot, each slot being between a side wall and a portion of the base.   
     
     
         19 . The card holder of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the plurality of side walls includes a first side wall and a second side wall,   wherein the one or more side openings further includes a third side opening, the third side opening being defined by the inner edges of the first side wall and a second side wall and a top surface of a first portion of the base, and   wherein the at least one slot includes a first slot and a second slot, the first slot being between the first side wall and a top surface of a second portion of the base, and the second slot being between the second side wall and a top surface of a third portion of the base, the top surfaces of the first, second and third portions of the base being continuous.   
     
     
         20 . The card holder of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of side walls further includes a third side wall and a fourth side wall, and wherein the one or more side openings further includes a fourth side opening, the fourth side opening being defined by the inner edges of the third and fourth side walls and a top surface of a fourth portion of the base. 
     
     
         21 . The card holder of  claim 20 ,
 wherein the at least one slot further includes a third slot and a fourth slot, the third slot being between the third side wall and a top surface of a fifth portion of the base, and the fourth slot being between the fourth side wall and a top surface of a sixth portion of the base, the top surfaces of the fourth, fifth and sixth portions of the base being continuous, and   wherein the first, second and third portions of the base are on the opposite side of the inner card holding space than the fourth, fifth and sixth portions of the base.   
     
     
         22 . The card holder of  claim 21 ,
 wherein the plurality of side wall portions further includes a third side wall portion and a fourth side wall portion,   wherein the at least one side connecting wall portion further includes a second side connecting wall portion between and continuous with the third and fourth side wall portions, and   wherein the one or more side openings further includes a fourth side opening, the fourth side opening being defined by the inner edges of the third and fourth side wall portions and the second side connecting wall portion.   
     
     
         23 . The card holder of  claim 22 , wherein the first side wall and the first side wall portion are joined along a first corner edge, the third side wall and the second side wall portion are joined along a second corner edge, the second side wall and the third side wall portion are joined along a third corner edge, and the fourth side wall and the fourth side wall portion are joined along a fourth corner edge. 
     
     
         24 . The card holder of  claim 16 , wherein the inner card holding space is horizontally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         25 . The card holder of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the base comprises an elevated center portion and two inclined portions, the two inclined portions including a first inclined portion and a second inclined portion,   wherein the first inclined portion is located between the elevated center portion and a first lateral side edge of the base, and the second inclined portion is located between the elevated center portion and a second lateral side edge of the base, and   wherein the first and second lateral side edges are on opposite sides of the base.   
     
     
         26 . The card holder of  claim 16 , wherein the card holder is attached to a game board. 
     
     
         27 . A card holder comprising:
 a first card holder portion comprising: a base having a generally planar shape; a plurality of vertically extending side walls, each of the plurality of side walls being approximately perpendicular to the base of the first holder portion; and one or more side openings, each side opening being between two neighboring spaced-apart side walls and above a respective portion of the base of the first holder portion, the plurality of vertically extending side walls surrounding an inner card holding space above the base of the first holder portion, wherein the base of the first holder portion has an elevated portion and at least one inclined portion, each inclined portion being between the elevated portion and a lateral side edge of the base;   a second card holder portion comprising: a base having a generally planar shape; a plurality of vertically extending side walls, each of the plurality of side walls being approximately perpendicular to the base of the second holder portion; a plurality of vertically extending side wall portions, each of the plurality of side wall portions being approximately perpendicular to the base of the second holder portion; at least one side connecting wall portion positioned between and continuous with two neighboring spaced-apart side wall portions; and one or more side openings, each side opening being between two neighboring spaced-apart side walls or side wall portions, wherein the plurality of vertically extending side walls and side wall portions surround an inner card holding space above the base of the second holder portion; and   a bridge portion, the bridge portion connecting the base of the first holder portion to the base of the second holder portion.   
     
     
         28 . The card holder of  claim 27 , wherein the second card holder portion further comprises:
 at least one slot, each slot being between a side wall and a portion of the base of the second card holder portion.