Playing card shuffler
First Claim
1. A card shuffler apparatus, comprising:
- a card support in which a single stack of cards to be shuffled may be directly placed by a user of the card shuffler apparatus;
a card collector for collecting cards released from the card support and from which shuffled cards may be removed from the card shuffler apparatus by a user of the card shuffler apparatus; and
a positioner adapted to randomly reposition the single stack of cards to be shuffled in the card support;
wherein the card shuffler apparatus is configured to individually release cards in the single stack of cards from the card support in a randomized order, and to sequentially pass the released cards into the card collector in the randomized order.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is for shuffling a plurality of playing cards used in gaming. The apparatus includes a card support adapted to support the unshuffled cards on-edge. An exciter is also included, and is adapted to impart vibrational action to the supported cards. Cards drop in a random fashion such as by controlling the relative position of the cards and passage through one or more card slots in a card rest. In at least some of the apparatuses, a medial card receiver is adapted to receive at least one card dropped from the card support and to retain the at least one received card to substantially block the card slot to prevent further cards from dropping. A positioner is preferably included to change a relative position of the unshuffled deck and card slots though which the cards drop.
366 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A card shuffler apparatus, comprising:
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a card support in which a single stack of cards to be shuffled may be directly placed by a user of the card shuffler apparatus; a card collector for collecting cards released from the card support and from which shuffled cards may be removed from the card shuffler apparatus by a user of the card shuffler apparatus; and a positioner adapted to randomly reposition the single stack of cards to be shuffled in the card support; wherein the card shuffler apparatus is configured to individually release cards in the single stack of cards from the card support in a randomized order, and to sequentially pass the released cards into the card collector in the randomized order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A card shuffler apparatus, comprising:
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a card support in which a single stack of cards to be shuffled may be directly placed by a user of the card shuffler apparatus; a card collector for collecting cards released from the card support and from which shuffled cards may be removed from the card shuffler apparatus by a user of the card shuffler apparatus; and an exciter adapted to impart vibratory action to the single stack of cards to be shuffled in the card support; wherein the card shuffler apparatus is configured to individually release cards in the single stack of cards from the card support in a randomized order, and to sequentially pass the released cards into the card collector in the randomized order.
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8. A card shuffler apparatus, comprising:
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a card support in which a single stack of cards to be shuffled may be directly placed by a user of the card shuffler apparatus; a card collector for collecting cards released from the card support and from which shuffled cards may be removed from the card shuffler apparatus by a user of the card shuffler apparatus; and means for moving cards individually released from the card support in a randomized order into the card collector in the randomized order; wherein the card shuffler apparatus is configured to individually release cards in the single stack of cards from the card support in a randomized order, and to sequentially pass the released cards into the card collector in the randomized order; and wherein the means for moving cards individually released from the card support in a randomized order into the card collector in the randomized order comprise one of a guide wheel having vanes, a jet pulser, and a link coupled to a solenoid.
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9. A card shuffler apparatus, comprising:
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a card support in which a single stack of cards to be shuffled may be directly placed by a user of the card shuffler apparatus; a card collector for collecting cards released from the card support and from which shuffled cards may be removed from the card shuffler apparatus by a user of the card shuffler apparatus; and a receiver that defines a card space adapted to temporarily receive cards released from the card support in a randomized order prior to their passage into the card collector in the randomized order; wherein the card shuffler apparatus is configured to individually release cards in the single stack of cards from the card support in a randomized order, and to sequentially pass the released cards into the card collector in the randomized order. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A card shuffler apparatus, comprising:
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a card support including a card aperture having a fixed width extending therethrough and a card support surface, the card support adapted to support cards to be shuffled in an upstanding on-edge orientation over the card support surface; and a positioner adapted to provide lateral movement between cards to be shuffled and the card aperture; wherein the card shuffler apparatus is configured to individually drop cards from the card support surface through the card aperture extending through the card support in a randomized order. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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15. A card shuffler apparatus, comprising:
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a card support having a card aperture extending therethrough and a card support surface, the card support adapted to support cards to be shuffled in an upstanding on-edge orientation over the card support surface; and an exciter adapted to impart vibratory action to cards to be shuffled on the card support surface; wherein the card shuffler apparatus is configured to individually drop cards from the card support surface through the card aperture extending through the card support in a randomized order.
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20. A card shuffler apparatus, comprising:
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a card support having a card aperture extending therethrough and a card support surface, the card support adapted to support cards to be shuffled in an upstanding on-edge orientation over the card support surface; a positioner adapted to randomly reposition cards to be shuffled in the card support relative to the card aperture; and a gate configured to move relative to the card support between a first position in which cards supported on the card support surface are prevented from passing through the card aperture by the gate and a second position in which a card supported on the card support surface is allowed to pass through the card aperture. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of randomly shuffling a plurality of cards, comprising:
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supporting a stack of unshuffled cards over a card support surface having a card aperture extending therethrough; randomly moving the stack of unshuffled cards over the card aperture and individually passing cards from the stack of unshuffled cards through the card aperture and into a card collector in a randomized order. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of randomly shuffling a plurality of cards, comprising:
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supporting a stack of unshuffled cards over a card support surface having a card aperture extending therethrough; randomly moving the stack of unshuffled cards over the card aperture and individually passing cards from the stack of unshuffled cards through the card aperture and into a card collector in a randomized order; and vibrating the stack of unshuffled cards while randomly moving the stack of unshuffled cards over the card aperture and individually passing cards from the stack of unshuffled cards through the card aperture.
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Specification