Playing card shuffler

• US 5,344,146 A
• Filed: 03/29/1993
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rodney S. Lee
• Original Assignee: Rodney S. Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Rodney S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US08/038,841
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 273/129 R
• US Class Current: 273/149.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers

Abstract

A device for shuffling playing cards is described as having a substantially rectangular enclosure with a width that is greater than the length of the playing cards to be shuffled and a height that is less than the width of the playing cards to prevent any of the cards from turning upside down. The length of the enclosure is greater than three times the length of the playing cards to provide room for cutting the cards. Two smaller partitions are placed inside the enclosure at opposite sides to impede the side to side motion of some of the playing cards when the card shuffler is shaken from side to side. The cards whose motion has been impeded settle into various random planar alignments relative to other cards, similar to a "cutting" of the cards. Repeated shaking of the card shuffler intermingles the cards and achieves an effective shuffling action.

Claims

1. A card shuffler for shuffling a plurality of cards, comprising:

a hollow housing having a substantially rectangular interior of a predetermined size, and having first and second ends;

first card cutting means attached proximally to said first end of said hollow housing, wherein said first card cutting means includes means for defining a partition parallel with said first end;

second card cutting means attached proximally to said second end of said hollow housing, said second card cutting means being diametrically opposite to said first card cutting means, wherein said second card cutting means includes means for defining a partition parallel with said second end, and said second card cutting means is disposed from said first card cutting means sufficient to accommodate some of said plurality of cards therein; and

means for providing access to said hollow housing for placing and removing said plurality of cards inside said hollow housing.

2. The card shuffler as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for defining a partition includes a block.

3. The card shuffler as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for defining a partition includes a block.

4. The card shuffler as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for providing access includes a hinged door.

5. The card shuffler as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for providing access includes means for removing a portion of said hollow housing apart from a remaining portion of said hollow housing.

6. The card shuffler as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for providing access includes an opening.

7. A card shuffler, comprising:

a substantially rectangular enclosure having a first end and a second end, an interior height less than the width of playing cards to be shuffled, an interior width greater than the width of said playing cards, and an interior length greater than three times the width of said playing cards;

first card cutting means attached contiguous with a first corner of said rectangular enclosure, said first corner being disposed at said first end thereof, the width of said first card cutting means being greater than the width of said playing cards, wherein said first card cutting means includes means for defining a partition parallel with said first end of said rectangular enclosure;

second card cutting means attached contiguous with a second corner of said rectangular enclosure, said second corner being second end thereof, the width of said second card cutting means being greater than the width of said playing cards, said second corner being diametrically opposite said first corner, wherein said second card cutting means includes means for defining a partition parallel with said second end of said rectangular enclosure and said second card cutting means is disposed from said first card cutting means sufficient to accommodate some of said playing cards therein; and

means to provide access to the interior of said enclosure for placing and removing said playing cards.

8. The card shuffler as defined by claim 7 wherein said means for defining a partition includes a block.

9. The card shuffler as defined by claim 7 wherein said means for defining a partition includes a block.

10. The card shuffler as defined by claim 7 wherein said access means includes a hinged door.

11. The card shuffler as defined by claim 7 wherein said access means includes means for removing a portion of said hollow housing apart from a remaining portion of said hollow housing,

12. The card shuffler as defined by claim 7 wherein said access means includes an opening.