Angled Card Slots and Privacy Shields for Board Game Privacy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing card holders for board and card games fail to effectively maintain privacy and prevent unauthorized viewing, leading to potential cheating and an unfair gaming experience due to inadequate coverage and lack of versatility in accommodating cards of varying dimensions and quantities.

Innovation Solution

A card holder with angled card slots and privacy shields that tilt cards towards the player, obstructing views from others, combined with customizable features like rotatable panels and polarized filter materials to ensure maximum privacy and adaptability to different card sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional card holders are used, then cards can be held and organized, but privacy protection is insufficient allowing unauthorized viewing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidunauthorized viewing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a third dimension by tilting cards at an angle (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the playing surface, creating a dimensional change that blocks line-of-sight from opposing players while maintaining accessibility for the cardholder. This angular orientation effectively adds a spatial dimension to privacy protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs privacy shields as intermediary elements positioned between the cards and opposing players. These shields act as mediators that selectively block visual access to card information while allowing the cardholder to view and manipulate their cards, thus resolving the privacy conflict without completely isolating the player.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If card holders with adequate privacy coverage are used, then unauthorized viewing is prevented, but versatility in accommodating cards of varying dimensions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy coverageVSAvoidcard size accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable components including removable privacy shields, adjustable card retainers, and flexible card slots that can adapt to different card dimensions. This dynamic design allows the same holder to maintain adequate privacy coverage while accommodating various card sizes and quantities throughout the game.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The card holder is designed with universal features that serve multiple functions: adjustable privacy shields that can be positioned for different card types, expandable card slots for varying quantities, and a base structure that accommodates different game configurations. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between privacy coverage and versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12090387B1Privacy enhancing card holder for board games and card games
Publication Date: 2024.09.17 BALLAM MOHAMMAD F N N
  • US12090387B1 patent drawing
  • US12090387B1 patent drawing
  • US12090387B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A card holder for board games that provides enhanced privacy and prevents unauthorized viewing of card information. The card holder incorporates angled card slots which tilt the cards towards the player, making it difficult for other players to see the card information without intentional effort. Additionally, the card holder includes privacy shields positioned to the side of each slot, further obstructing the view of cards from adjacent players.