Game case for card type games

Abstract

A game case ( 20 ) for retaining a first card ( 14 A) for a card type game ( 12 ) includes a case housing ( 22 ) having a first housing cover ( 32 ), a second housing cover ( 34 ), a first card tray ( 38 ) secured to the first housing cover ( 32 ), and a tray lid ( 44 ). The housing covers ( 32 ) ( 34 ) are movable relative to each other between a closed housing configuration ( 48 ) in which the case housing ( 22 ) is closed and an open housing configuration ( 50 ) in which the case housing ( 22 ) is open. The first card tray ( 38 ) is secured to the first housing cover ( 32 ). Further, the first card tray ( 38 ) is sized and shaped to receive the first card ( 14 A). The tray lid ( 44 ) is positioned between the housing covers ( 32 ) ( 34 ). Further, the tray lid ( 44 ) pivots relative to the first housing cover ( 32 ) between a closed lid position ( 56 ) in which the tray lid ( 44 ) covers the first card tray ( 38 ) to retain the first card ( 14 A) in the first card tray ( 38 ), and an open lid position ( 58 ) in which the tray lid ( 44 ) is rotated away from the first card tray ( 38 ) so that the first card ( 14 A) can be removed from the first card tray ( 38 ).

1 . A game case for a first card for a card type game, the game case comprising: 
 a case housing including (i) a first housing cover; (ii) a second housing cover, the housing covers being movable relative to each other between a closed housing configuration in which the case housing is closed and an open housing configuration in which the case housing is open; (iii) a first card tray that is fixedly secured to the first housing cover, the first card tray being adapted to receive the first card; and (iv) a tray lid that is positioned between the housing covers the tray lid pivoting relative to the first housing cover between a closed lid position in which the tray lid covers the first card tray to retain the first card in the first card tray between the first housing cover and the tray lid, and an open lid position in which the tray lid is rotated away from the first card tray so that the first card can be removed from the first card tray.    
   
   
       2 . The game case of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the tray lid is substantially transparent.  
   
   
       3 . The game case of  claim 1  further comprising a lid lock that selectively locks the tray lid in the closed lid position to the first housing cover.  
   
   
       4 . The game case of  claim 1  wherein the first card tray is integrally formed into the first housing cover and the first card tray is adapted to receive a plurality of first cards.  
   
   
       5 . The game case of  claim 4  further comprising a second card tray that is integrally formed into the first housing cover, the second card tray being adapted to receive a plurality of second cards.  
   
   
       6 . The game case of  claim 1  wherein the housing covers are spaced apart and substantially parallel when the case housing is in the closed housing configuration, and the housing covers are substantially coplanar when the case housing is in the open housing configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The game case of  claim 1  wherein the tray lid moves with the first housing cover between the housing configurations.  
   
   
       8 . The game case of  claim 1  further comprising a slip cover that is secured to one of the housing covers, the slip cover being adapted to receive an identifier sheet that identifies the card game.  
   
   
       9 . The game case of  claim 1  further a materials holder that is secured to and moves with the second housing cover, the materials holder being adapted to selectively retain one or more game materials of the card type game.  
   
   
       10 . A card type game that includes a first card and the game case of  claim 1  retaining the first card.  
   
   
       11 . A game case for retaining a plurality of first cards and an identifier sheet for a card type game, the game case comprising: 
 a case housing including (i) a first housing cover; (ii) a second housing cover, the housing covers being movable relative to each other between a closed housing configuration in which the case housing is closed and an open housing configuration in which the case housing is open; wherein the housing covers are spaced apart and substantially parallel when the housing case is in the closed housing configuration, and the housing covers are substantially coplanar when the housing case is in the open housing configuration; (iii) a first card tray that is integrally formed into the first housing cover, the first card tray being adapted to receive the plurality of first cards; (iv) a slip cover that is secured to one of the housing covers, the slip cover being adapted to receive the identifier sheet; and (v) a tray lid that is positioned between the housing covers, the tray lid pivoting relative to the first housing cover between a closed lid position in which the tray lid covers the first card tray to retain the first cards in the first card tray, and an open lid position in which the tray lid is rotated away from the first card tray so that the first cards can be removed from the first card tray, wherein at least a portion of the tray lid is substantially transparent, and wherein the tray lid moves with the first housing cover between the housing configurations.    
   
   
       12 . The game case of  claim 11  further comprising a lid lock that selectively locks the tray lid in the closed lid position to the first housing cover.  
   
   
       13 . The game case of  claim 11  further comprising a second card tray that is integrally formed into the first housing cover, the second card tray being adapted to receive a plurality of second cards and wherein the tray lid selectively covers both the first card tray and the second card tray.  
   
   
       14 . The game case of  claim 11  further a materials holder that is secured to and moves with the second housing cover, the materials holder being adapted to selectively retain one or more game materials of the card game.  
   
   
       15 . A method for retaining a first card of a card type game, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a case housing having (i) a first housing cover; (ii) a second housing cover, the housing covers being movable relative to each other between a closed housing configuration in which the case housing is closed and an open housing configuration in which the case housing is open; (iii) a first card tray that is fixedly secured to the first housing cover, the first card tray being adapted to receive the first card; and (iv) a transparent tray lid that is positioned between the housing covers, the tray lid pivoting relative to the first housing cover between a closed lid position in which the tray lid covers the first card tray to retain the first card in the first card tray between the tray lid and the first housing cover, and an open lid position in which the tray lid is rotated away from the first card tray so that the first card can be removed from the first card tray; and    positioning the first card in the first card tray.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of providing a case housing includes providing a lid lock that selectively locks the tray lid in the closed lid position to the first housing cover.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the housing covers are spaced apart and substantially parallel when the housing case is in the closed housing configuration, and the housing covers are substantially coplanar when the housing case is in the open housing configuration.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the tray lid moves with the first housing cover between the housing configurations.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of providing a case housing includes providing a slip cover that is secured to one of the housing covers, the slip cover being adapted to receive an identifier sheet that identifies the card game.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of providing a case housing includes providing a materials holder that is secured to and moves with the second housing cover, the materials holder being adapted to selectively retain one or more game materials.