Ergonomic Card Delivery Shoe

• US 20100013152A1
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grauzer, Attila, Scheper, Paul K., Walsh, Sion D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,636,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/149.R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/14 Card dealers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2419 Optical

Abstract

An apparatus for handling cards having a dispensing end is disclosed. The dispensing end has a base plate for supporting cards being manually removed. An upper plate with a U-shaped opening is spaced above the base plate and defines a slot for cards to pass. First and second spaced apart card guides define side edges of the slot. The first card guide is shorter than the second card guide, creating an offset in a first direction of travel of cards being removed. A method of removing cards is also disclosed, enabling movement of cards in at least two directions due to the presence of a card guide offset.

Claims

1. An apparatus for handling cards having a dispensing end, the dispensing end comprising:

a base plate for supporting cards being manually removed;

at least one upper plate spaced apart from the base plate, the upper plate having a substantially U-shaped opening for manual removal of cards, wherein a space between the base plate and upper plate together form slot for a card to pass through; and

first and second spaced apart card guides defining side edges of the slot, wherein a first card guide is shorter in length than a second guide, creating an offset in a first direction of travel of cards being removed.

2. The card handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a shoe.

3. The card handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a shuffler.

4. The card handling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the shuffler is continuous.

5. The card handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first card guide is positioned on a side of the apparatus nearest the dealer.

6. The card handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first card guide has a terminal edge, wherein the edge is curved.

7. The card handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein cards are movable in a second direction of travel perpendicular to a direction of travel of cards when a trailing edge of a card is free of the first card guide.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a card-reading sensor is positioned in the base plate.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a card limiter plate between the upper plate and the base plate.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the card-reading sensor is configured to identify the suit and rank of cards removed from the apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a distance between the card limiter plate and base plate is adjustable, defining a height of the slot.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the upper plate comprises a protective cover which is detachably secured adjacent to said barrier.

13. A method of delivering a playing card from a playing card handling device comprising:

providing a playing card delivery area defined by an upper plate with a finger slot, a base plate, a first card guide and a second spaced apart card guide, which define an output slot through which playing cards can be slidably removed, the second card guide extending further in a first direction of travel of cards than the first card guide, the method having steps comprising;

placing a playing card in the playing card delivery area;

the dealer moving a leading end of the card in a first direction of travel until a trailing edge of the card clears an end of the first card guide; and

the dealer moving the card in at least one additional direction of travel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a second direction of travel is perpendicular to a first direction of travel.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a second direction of travel is not parallel to the first direction of travel.