Shuffled playing cards and manufacturing method thereof

• US 10,286,292 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2017
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Angel Group Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Angel Playing Cards Co Ltd
• Inventors: Shigeta, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Simms, Jr., John E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Dolores
• Application Number:
  US15/424,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20170144057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 273149 OR
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/00 Card games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00; card games played on a gaming machine G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/02 Cards; Special shapes of cards card-printing methods B41K, B41M
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/062 Boxes or cases for cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/10 Card holders
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 11/00 Game accessories of general use , e.g. score counters, boxes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/022 Manufacturing of cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/58 Antifraud or preventing misuse

Abstract

The present invention provides shuffled playing cards which eliminate the need for a game host to shuffle cards before games by taking a lot of time as well as eliminate the possibility of cheating. A shuffled playing cards (1) obtained by shuffling a predetermined number of decks of playing cards (12) using a shuffling machine is packaged as an individual pack. The shuffled playing cards (1) is individually packaged and sealed with an adhesive label (13). A bar code (13a) which represents a unique shuffled card ID has been printed on the adhesive label (13). The shuffled card ID is registered in a database by being associated with information which allows identification of a shuffling machine used to shuffle the playing card set.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing one or more shuffled decks of playing cards, the method comprising:

shuffling one or more decks of playing cards;

detecting at least a rank or suit of each card of the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards;

inspecting the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards during or after shuffling;

determining whether there is a defect comprising at least one of;

an excess or deficiency in the rank and suit combinations;

or a deficiency in a predetermined number of multiple cards;

wherein upon a condition that the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards is determined to be defective, disposing of a set of playing cards which is determined to be defective as a defective item; and

packaging a set of the playing cards determined to not be defective in one package, wherein a shuffled card ID associated with the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards is provided with the package.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more decks of playing cards are shuffled one by one in a random order using a random number generator.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards determined to be defective does not comply with predetermined card standards.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shuffled card ID is registered in a database by being associated with a product type of the shuffled decks of playing cards or customer information.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shuffled card ID represents a bar code or a two dimensional matrix code.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shuffled card ID is attached to a sealing label of the one package.

7. A packed set of playing cards comprising:

one or more shuffled decks of playing cards, each of the playing cards including at least a rank or suit configured to be detected;

a package that includes the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards, wherein the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards passed an inspection using one or more processors during or after shuffling of the playing cards such that the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards is determined to be free of a defect comprising at least one of;

an excess or deficiency in the rank and suit combinations;

or

a deficiency in a predetermined number of multiple cards; and

a shuffled card ID associated with the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards is provided with the package.

8. The packed set of playing cards according to claim 7, wherein the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards are randomly shuffled.

9. The packed set of playing cards according to claim 7, wherein the defect does not comply with predetermined card standards.

10. The packed set of playing cards according to claim 7, wherein the shuffled card ID is registered in a database by being associated with a product type of the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards or customer information.

11. The packed set of playing cards according to claim 7, wherein the shuffled card ID represents a bar code or a two dimensional matrix code.

12. The packed set of playing cards according claim 7, wherein the shuffled card ID is attached to a sealing label of the package.