Foldable Card Holder With Open-Top Deck Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing card holders for board games often result in scattering or difficulty in drawing and returning cards due to loose decks and open-top designs, slowing game play and increasing the risk of disturbance.
Innovation Solution
A foldable card holder with a three-sided, open-top design that can be assembled from flat storage to form a structure with vertical walls and a partial floor, using magnets or bistable mechanisms for stability, allowing easy card access and retention during game play.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an open top box is provided for placing cards during game play, then cards can be easily accessed, but it is difficult to draw a card from the top of the deck and place it on the bottom without lifting the whole deck
Solution Approach 1:
The card holder is divided into three separate wall sections that can be folded independently to form the box structure. This segmentation allows the walls to be pre-folded and stored flat, then quickly assembled into a three-dimensional box during gameplay, resolving the contradiction between ease of access and time consumption by enabling rapid deployment of the card holder structure
Solution Approach 2:
The wall sections are pre-creased with fold lines during manufacturing, so that when the card holder is assembled, the walls automatically fold into the correct vertical positions. This preliminary preparation of fold lines eliminates the need for manual folding during gameplay, allowing players to quickly set up the card holder and access cards without time loss
2Ease of operation
If cards are placed loose on the game board, then they are easily accessible, but the deck can easily be scattered or toppled by inadvertent movements
Solution Approach 1:
The card holder provides localized containment specifically for the card deck area, while leaving the rest of the game board open for other game elements. The box structure creates a stable, enclosed space that protects cards from scattering, while the open top maintains accessibility. This local containment solution resolves the contradiction by providing stability exactly where needed without restricting overall game play flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to prevent scattering by making the entire game board restrictive or enclosed, the invention inverts the approach by providing an open-top structure that allows free access from above while the vertical walls prevent lateral scattering. This inversion of the containment concept - open on one axis, enclosed on others - simultaneously achieves both accessibility and stability
3Reliability
If a traditional box is used to hold cards, then cards are protected from scattering, but the structure cannot be stored flat in the game packaging
Solution Approach 1:
The card holder transitions from a flat, two-dimensional configuration for storage to a three-dimensional box structure for use. The wall sections are designed to fold upward from the base, transforming the compact flat package into a functional three-dimensional container. This dynamic transformation allows the same structure to meet both storage efficiency requirements and card containment needs during gameplay
Solution Approach 2:
When folded flat, the wall sections lie nested against each other and the base, creating a compact configuration that fits within the game box. The sections are arranged in a nested pattern where the vertical walls are folded back onto the base structure, minimizing the overall volume required for storage while maintaining the ability to unfold and assemble into the full three-dimensional card holder during gameplay
Data Source
AI summary
The present apparatus is a card holder that can be stored flat to fit into the packaging of any game, and then assembled to form a three sided, open top box. The three sided design allows a card to be easily slid from the card deck and easily placed on the bottom of the deck during game play. The apparatus prevents the cards from scattering from inadvertent bumps, vibrations, or other accidental movements during game play. In one embodiment, the card holder is a single piece that can be easily folded into a three dimensional shape to create the card box. In one embodiment, the card holder is comprised of multiple pieces which can be assembled to create the card box. In one embodiment, the card holder is part of the game board and can be folded down flat for storage and assembled during play.