Card counting prevention apparatus for blackjack

• US 4,314,700 A
• Filed: 10/03/1980
• Issued: 02/09/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kenneth C. Dylag
• Original Assignee: Kenneth C. Dylag
• Inventors: Dylag, Kenneth C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oechsle, Anton O.
• Application Number:
  US06/193,419
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 A, 273/148 R, 273/309, 273/274, 273/265, 434/237, 434/350, 434/351, 434/352, 434/432, 108/60, 108/61
• US Class Current: 273/148.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/06 Card games appurtenances
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/067 Tables or similar supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00416 with means for hiding a part of the playing field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00422 the shield being removable
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082

Abstract

Apparatus for preventing card-counting in blackjack games includes one or more shields on a playing table which obstruct each player'"'"'s view of at least one other player'"'"'s cards, without obstructing each player'"'"'s view of the dealer'"'"'s cards or the dealer'"'"'s view of any of the cards. One or more shields may be used. They may be fixed to the table, or they may be portable so that the dealer may move them during the game if he or she wishes. Portable shields may be supported by legs, or may be inserted in grooves in the table. Each shield is a thin sheet of opaque material which stands generally vertical with respect to the table. The plane defined by the shield generally passes through the dealer'"'"'s line of sight so that the dealer'"'"'s view of the players'"'"' cards, and each player'"'"'s view of the dealer'"'"'s cards, is not obstructed. However, each player'"'"'s view of at least one other player'"'"'s cards is obstructed so that none of the players may count cards. A checker vantage point is provided over the table from which a checker may view the dealer'"'"' s card and each of the player'"'"'s cards.

Claims

1. Apparatus for preventing card-counting in blackjack played at a blackjack card table comprising a table, a dealer station on one side of said table having a dealer vantage point above and behind said dealer station from which a dealer may view said table, a plurality of player stations on the opposite side of said table, each said player station having a player vantage point above and behind each of said player stations for viewing said table, said player stations partially surrounding said dealer station, a checker vantage point over said table from which a checker may view said table, and means for obstructing the view of at least one of the said player stations from each of said player vantage points without obstructing the view of any of said player stations from said dealer vantage point, said dealer station from any of said player vantage points, and said dealer station and each of said player stations from said checker vantage point.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said player stations form an arc partially surrounding said dealer station.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said obstructing means comprises an opaque shield adjacent said table between any two of said player stations, and means for maintaining said shield substantially vertical with respect to said table.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the plane formed by said shield intersects said dealer vantage point.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said shield is not secured to said table and may be moved by said dealer between different player stations, and said maintaining means comprises a leg secured to each side of said shield.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said shield is adjacent said table with said legs adjacent said player stations, away from said dealer station.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said obstructing means comprises a plurality of opaque shields adjacent said table between pairs of said player stations, and means for maintaining said shields substantially vertical with respect to said table.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said shields are not secured to said table and may be moved by said dealer between different player stations, and said maintaining means comprises a leg secured to each side of each of said shields.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said shields are adjacent said table with said legs adjacent said player stations, away from said dealer station.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said obstructing means comprises a first shield between the first two player stations furthermost to the left of said dealer, and a second shield between the two player stations furthermost to the right of said dealer.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said maintaining means comprises a plurality of grooves in said table between said player stations, said shields slidably fitting into said grooves.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said shields are secured to said table.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said shields extends away from said dealer station beyond said player stations.

14. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said maintaining means comprises a groove in said table between two of said player stations, said shield slidably fitting into said groove.

15. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said shield is secured to said table.

16. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said shield extends away from said dealer station beyond said player stations.

17. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said shields are approximately twenty-inches long, twelve inches high and one-quarter inch thick.

18. In a blackjack card table having a table, a dealer station on one side of said table having a dealer vantage point above and behind said dealer station from which a dealer may view said table, a plurality of player stations on the opposite side of said table, each said player station having a player vantage point above and behind each of said player stations for viewing said table, said player stations partially surrounding said dealer station, and a checker vantage point over said table for viewing said table, the improvement comprising:

means for obstructing the view of at least one of said player stations from each of said player vantage points without obstructing the view of any of said player stations from said dealer vantage, said dealer station from and of said player vantage points, and said dealer station and each of said player stations from said checker vantage point, and means for maintaining said obstructing means in substantially vertical communication with said table.

19. The improvement of claim 18 wherein said player stations form an arc partially surrounding said dealer station.

20. The improvement of claim 18 wherein said obstructing means comprises a vertical opaque shield adjacent said table between any two of said player stations.

21. The improvement of claim 20 wherein said shield is portable and may be moved by said dealer between different player stations, and said maintaining means comprises a leg secured to each side of said shield.

22. The improvement of claim 21 wherein said shield is adjacent said table with said legs adjacent said player stations, away from said dealer station.

23. The improvement of claim 18 wherein said obstructing means comprises a plurality of opaque shields adjacent said table between pairs of said player stations.

24. The improvement of claim 23 wherein said shields are portable and may be moved by said dealer between different player stations, and said maintaining means comprises a leg secured to each side of said shield.

25. The improvement of claim 23 wherein said shields are secured to said table.

26. The improvement of claim 23 wherein said shields extend away from said dealer station beyond said player stations.