Magic card deck

Description

BACKGROUND

Magic tricks provide hours of entertainment for many. One typical type of magic trick employs a deck of cards whereby an audience member selects a card from a deck of cards wherein the card is not identified to the magician. While the audience member reinserts the selected card into the deck, the magician squeezes the deck tightly so that the audience member is unable to fully reinsert the card into the deck. The magician may then pull the deck away, and surreptitiously slightly crimp the corner of the selected card. The magician may then shuffle the deck of cards. Subsequently, the magician “locates” the selected card within the deck by identifying the card via the crimped corner whereby it appears as if the magician has employed psychic powers or other magical means to identify the selected card within the deck. These types of card tricks take many hours to master and frequently require high levels of dexterity in the fingers and hands of the magician.

SUMMARY

Shortcomings with magic card tricks are addressed by the illustrative embodiments herein. According to one illustrative embodiment, a deck of cards comprises: a plurality of cards, each of the cards comprising: a front face; a rear face; a plurality of corners, wherein at least one of the corners has a first radius of curvature and wherein at least one other of the corners has a second radius of curvature, and wherein the second radius of curvature is less than the first radius of curvature.

In another illustrative embodiment, a deck of playing cards comprises: a plurality of cards, each card comprising: a front face; a rear face; a first lateral edge; a first end edge, wherein the first lateral edge and first end edge intersect at a first corner, wherein the first corner has a first radius of curvature; a second lateral edge, wherein the second lateral edge and first end edge intersect at a second corner; and a second end edge, wherein the second end edge and second lateral edge intersect at a third corner, wherein the third corner has a second radius of curvature wherein the second radius of curvature is less than the first radius of curvature, and wherein the second end edge and first lateral edge intersect at a fourth corner, wherein the fourth corner has a radius of curvature substantially equal to the second radius of curvature.

Further, in another illustrative embodiment, a method for performing a magic trick comprises: providing a deck of cards, wherein the deck of cards includes a plurality of cards, each of the cards comprising: a front face; a rear face; a first lateral edge; a first end edge, wherein the first lateral edge and first end edge intersect at a first corner, wherein the first corner has a first radius of curvature; a second lateral edge, wherein the second lateral edge and first end edge intersect at a second corner; and a second end edge, wherein the second end edge and second lateral edge intersect at a third corner, wherein the third corner has a second radius of curvature wherein the second radius of curvature is less than the first radius of curvature, and wherein the second end edge and first lateral edge intersect at a fourth corner, wherein the fourth corner has a radius of curvature substantially equal to the second radius of curvature; arranging the deck of cards wherein the first corner of each card is aligned with the first corner of at least one adjacent card; removing a card from the deck of cards; rotating the removed card about an axis substantially perpendicular to at least one of the card front face and card rear face; reinserting the rotated card into the deck of cards wherein at least one of the third and fourth corners of the rotated card is adjacent to at least one of a first and second corner of at least one adjacent card wherein at least one of the third and fourth corners of the rotated card protrudes from the deck of cards; and identifying the rotated card by locating at least one protruding corner of the rotated card.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the illustrative embodiments will become apparent with reference to the drawings and detailed description that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, front view of an illustrative card;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, perspective view of an illustrative deck of cards;

FIG. 3 is a schematic, perspective view of an illustrative deck of cards having one card rotated and reinserted into the deck;

FIG. 4A is a schematic partial front view of an illustrative deck of cards showing a protruding corner of a selectively rotated card;

FIG. 4B is a schematic partial front view of an illustrative deck of cards showing a gap created by a selectively rotated card; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic environmental view of an illustrative deck of cards showing the deck of cards spread on a generally flat surface with one card rotated relative to the other cards of the deck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments described herein, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the illustrative embodiments are defined only by the appended claims.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, an illustrative deck of cards 100 is shown. The deck of cards 100 includes a plurality of cards 102. Each card 102 includes a front face 104 and a rear face 106. The front face 104 may include information such as card suit, card rank and/or court, or the like. The information on the front face 104 may also color-coded per traditional playing cards (e.g., red suits, black suits, etc.). In an alternative embodiment, the front face 104 may include business or personal information. However, it will be appreciated that the front face 104 may include any suitable information that is capable of distinguishing the cards from one another within the deck of cards 100 and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. The rear face 106 may include any suitable design, personal or business information, or any other suitable design or material and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the material included on the rear face 106 of each card 102 is generally uniform throughout the deck of cards 100.

Each card 102 also includes a first lateral edge 108, a first end edge 110, a second lateral edge 112 and a second end edge 114. While various features are described with terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, etc. throughout this disclosure, it will be appreciated that such terms are merely descriptive and not intended to be limiting in any way. Also, while the cards 102 are shown as being generally rectangular in shape, it will be appreciated that the cards may have any suitable configuration and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, and without limitation, the cards may be generally square-shaped, triangle-shaped, pentagon-shaped, hexagon-shaped, octagon-shaped, etc. or any other suitable shape.

The first end edge 110 and first lateral edge 108 intersect at a first corner 116. The first corner 116 has a first radius of curvature. In one embodiment, the first corner radius of curvature is less than one inch. In an alternative embodiment, the first radius of curvature is approximately 5 millimeters. However, it will be appreciated that the first radius of curvature may have any suitable dimension and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. In an alternative embodiment, the first corner 116 may be chamfered. The first end edge 110 and second lateral edge 112 intersect at a second corner 118. In one embodiment, the second corner 118 has a radius of curvature substantially equal to the first radius of curvature. In an alternative embodiment, the second corner 118 has a radius of curvature smaller than the first radius of curvature and substantially equal to the radius of curvature of at least one of a third corner 120 and fourth corner 122 (described further below).

The second end edge 114 and second lateral edge 112 intersect at a third corner 120. In one embodiment, the third corner 120 has a second radius of curvature wherein the second radius of curvature is less than the first radius of curvature. In one embodiment, the second radius of curvature is less than 0.0001 inches. In an alternative embodiment, the second radius of curvature is approximately 3 millimeters. In yet another alternative embodiment, the difference between the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature is approximately 1.5 millimeters. In yet another alternative embodiment, the relationship between the first radius of curvature and second radius of curvature is as follows: y=x/2±0.3(x) where x is the first radius of curvature and y is the second radius of curvature. However, it will be appreciated that the second radius of curvature may have any suitable dimension and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. In an alternative embodiment, the third corner may be a square corner. In yet another alternative, the third corner may be chamfered less deeply than a chamfered first corner. The second end edge 114 also intersects the first lateral edge 108 at a fourth corner 122. The fourth corner 122 has a radius of curvature substantially equal to the second radius of curvature or the radius of curvature of the third corner 120. In an alternative embodiment, the fourth corner may be a square corner. In yet another alternative, the fourth corner may be chamfered less deeply than a chamfered first corner.

In use, the cards 102 may be arranged such that the front face 104 of each card is facing the same direction and such that the first corners 116 of the cards 102 are in substantial alignment, the second corners 118 of the cards 102 are in substantial alignment, the third corners 120 of the cards 102 are in substantial alignment, and the fourth corners 122 of the cards 102 are in substantial alignment (see e.g., FIG. 2). A card 102 may then be selectively removed from the deck 100. While the illustrative embodiment shows a single card 102 as being removed from the deck 100, it will be appreciated that one or more cards 102 may be removed from the deck 100 and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the front face 104 of the removed card (shown as 102′ in FIGS. 3-5) is not shown to the operator of the deck 100 so as to give the impression that the operator will locate the selected/removed card 102′ from the deck with psychic powers or other magical means.

The removed card 102′ may be rotated about an axis substantially perpendicular to the front face 104 and/or rear face 106 of the card. In an alternative embodiment, the removed card 102′ may be rotated about an axis substantially perpendicular to one or both of the lateral edges of the removed card 102′. In one embodiment, the removed card 102′ is surreptitiously rotated by the operator. In the illustrative embodiment, the removed card 102′ is rotated approximately 180-degrees. However, it will be appreciated that the removed card 102′ may be rotated at any suitable angle and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, and without limitation, if the cards 102 were generally square-shaped, the removed card 102′ may be rotated 90-degrees, 180-degrees, 270-degrees. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that cards having other configurations may be rotated at various other angles and such configurations and rotational angles are expressly contemplated by the present disclosure.

Once the removed card 102′ has been removed and rotated, the card 102′ (hereinafter referred to as the rotated card 102′) is reinserted into the deck of cards 100 such that the first corner 116′ of the rotated card 102′ is adjacent to at least one of a third corner 120 and a fourth corner 122 of at least one adjacent card 102, the second corner 118′ of the rotated card 102′ is adjacent to at least one of a third corner 120 and fourth corner 122 of at least one adjacent card 102, the third corner 120′ of the rotated card 102′ is adjacent to at least one of a first corner 116 and second corner 118 of at least one adjacent card 102, and the fourth corner 122′ of the rotated card 102′ is adjacent to at least one of a first corner 116 and second corner 118 of at least one adjacent card 102. The deck 100 may then be shuffled. In one embodiment, the edges of the cards may be adjusted such that each edge of a card is substantially coplanar with an adjacent edge of at least one adjacent card 102 so that the deck 100 appears neatly stacked.

Once the rotated card 102′ is reinserted into the deck 100, at least one of the third corner 120′ and fourth corner 122′ of the rotated card 102′ may protrude from the deck 100 allowing the operator of the deck 100 to identify the card 102′ by feeling for one of the protruding corners 120′, 122′. Also, the first corner 116′ and second corner 118′ of the rotated card 102′ may each be recessed relative to the third and fourth corners 120, 122 of the adjacent card(s) thereby providing the deck 100 with a gap 124. Thus, the operator of the deck 100 may alternatively identify the rotated card 102′ by locating the gap 124 in the deck by, for example, thumbing the deck 100 to locate the gap 124. Once the rotated card 102′ has been identified by the operator, the operator may remove the rotated card 102′ thereby providing the impression that the operator magically located the selected card 102′ within the deck with psychic or other magical means.

In an alternative use, as shown in FIG. 5, once the selected card 102′ is removed, rotated and reinserted into the deck 100, the deck 100 may be shuffled and spread on a generally flat surface, such as a table. The operator of the deck 100 may locate the selected card 102′ by visually locating the card 102′ having corners 116′-122′ oriented differently than the corners 116-122 of the other cards 102 of the deck 100.

In yet another method employing the illustrative deck of cards 100, the deck 100 may be arranged such that black suit cards (e.g., clubs and spades) have a first orientation and red suit cards (e.g., hearts and diamonds) have a second orientation. While the illustrative example employs red and black suits, it will be appreciated that any suitable color suit(s) and/or any other device, method or means of differentiating the cards from one another based on information on each face 104 may be employed and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. The deck 100 may be arranged such that the first lateral edges 108 of the red suit cards are be substantially co-planar with the second lateral edges 112 of the black suit cards, and the first end edges 110 of the red suit cards are substantially co-planar with the second end edges 114 of the black suit cards. In one embodiment, the deck 100 is ordered such that the deck alternates between red suit cards and black suit cards. The deck 100 may then be riffled by thumbing the corners of the deck 100. Given the orientation of the cards, the user is either rifling the third or fourth corners 120, 122 of the red suit cards or the third or fourth corners 120, 200 of the black suit cards, whereby it may appear as if the deck 100 is comprised of only red suit cards or black suit cards when the riffling is done with the card faces 104 up and depending on whether the third or fourth corners 120, 122 of the red suit are being riffled or whether the third or fourth corners 120, 122 of the black suit are being riffled. Further methods employing the illustrative deck 100 will now be apparent to those skilled in the art and are considered within the scope of the present disclosure.

In an alternative embodiment, a deck of cards may include a plurality of cards wherein each card has a first corner and a second corner. The first corner has a first radius of curvature and the second corner has a second radius of curvature wherein the second radius of curvature is less than the first radius of curvature. The corners are connected by first and second lateral edges each having substantially equal radius of curvatures. It will be appreciated that the previous methods of performing tricks are equally applicable to the present deck of cards and are considered within the scope of the present disclosure.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been disclosed in the context of certain illustrative, non-limiting embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.