Card dispenser apparatus and protective guard therefor
First Claim
1. A playing card dispenser having a guard apparatus for restricting access to cards within the dispenser, said dispenser comprising:
- a box open at the top for receiving a plurality of playing cards in an orientation to be dispensed from the box in serial fashion;
a slanted forward end panel defining an opening adjacent the lower side thereof for permitting individual cards to be drawn from the box;
a bottom of the box slanted downward toward said forward end panel for supporting said plurality of playing cards;
said opening having a shape comprising a slit along the bottom of the panel for passing a card from the interior of the box to the exterior and extending upward from the slit to permit a dealer'"'"'s thumb and/or fingers to access the next card adjacent the front panel; and
said guard apparatus comprising a bifurcated plate having upper and lower sections joined by a hinge for permitting the lower section to be raised to a position where a dealer'"'"'s fingers can access the opening defined in said front panel without exposing the forward-most card prior to its withdrawal from the box.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combination card dealing shoe and protective guard plate is disclosed. An improved card follower device is also included for more effective control of the cards when the shoe is in use. The guard plate may be formed integrally with the shoe or it may be fabricated as a separate item for retrofitting attachment to an existing shoe. The plate is bifurcated and the two parts are joined by a hinge with a coil spring which urges the lower portion of the cover plate downward and inward to substantially cover the finger opening in the front panel of the shoe to conceal the card which is in position ready for dealing. The hinged portion of the cover plate has a projecting member defining an opening which is sufficient to give the dealer'"'"'s thumb and/or finger access to the shoe without exposing the card that is being dealt, thus preventing one type of cheating by a dealer.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A playing card dispenser having a guard apparatus for restricting access to cards within the dispenser, said dispenser comprising:
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a box open at the top for receiving a plurality of playing cards in an orientation to be dispensed from the box in serial fashion;
a slanted forward end panel defining an opening adjacent the lower side thereof for permitting individual cards to be drawn from the box;
a bottom of the box slanted downward toward said forward end panel for supporting said plurality of playing cards;
said opening having a shape comprising a slit along the bottom of the panel for passing a card from the interior of the box to the exterior and extending upward from the slit to permit a dealer'"'"'s thumb and/or fingers to access the next card adjacent the front panel; and
said guard apparatus comprising a bifurcated plate having upper and lower sections joined by a hinge for permitting the lower section to be raised to a position where a dealer'"'"'s fingers can access the opening defined in said front panel without exposing the forward-most card prior to its withdrawal from the box. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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3. The apparatus of claim wherein said hood portion is shaped as part of said lower section to block the view of game players from the next card to be dealt.
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15. A guard apparatus for use with a playing card dispenser, which dispenser has a slanted forward end panel defining an opening adjacent the lower side thereof for permitting restricted access to a dealer'"'"'s thumb and/or fingers to draw individual cards within said dispenser, said guard apparatus comprising:
a bifurcated plate having upper and lower sections joined by a hinge for permitting the lower section to be raised to a position where a dealer'"'"'s fingers can access the opening defined in said front panel without exposing the forward-most card prior to its withdrawal from the box. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification