HAND-FORMING CARD SHUFFLING APPARATUSES INCLUDING MULTI-CARD STORAGE COMPARTMENTS, AND RELATED METHODS
First Claim
1. A card shuffler, comprising:
- a card input configured to input cards into the card shuffler;
a card storage device positioned and configured to receive cards from the card input and temporarily store cards within the card shuffler, the card storage device comprising a movable wheel configured to rotate within the card shuffler, the movable wheel comprising a plurality of storage compartments, at least a majority of the storage compartments sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein; and
a card output configured to output cards from the card shuffler;
wherein the card output is configured to eject cards out from the storage compartments and into an output compartment such that the cards are oriented at a downward angle of between about 2° and
about 15°
relative to a horizontal plane at all times as the cards move from each storage compartment into the output compartment.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Card shufflers usable in forming and dispensing randomized playing card hands for use in playing card games include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a wheel configured to rotate within the card shuffler. The rotatable wheel may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein. Related methods involve the use of such card shufflers in playing card games.
19 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A card shuffler, comprising:
-
a card input configured to input cards into the card shuffler; a card storage device positioned and configured to receive cards from the card input and temporarily store cards within the card shuffler, the card storage device comprising a movable wheel configured to rotate within the card shuffler, the movable wheel comprising a plurality of storage compartments, at least a majority of the storage compartments sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein; and a card output configured to output cards from the card shuffler; wherein the card output is configured to eject cards out from the storage compartments and into an output compartment such that the cards are oriented at a downward angle of between about 2° and
about 15°
relative to a horizontal plane at all times as the cards move from each storage compartment into the output compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A card shuffler, comprising:
-
a card input configured to move cards from a card-receiving area at an exterior of the card shuffler into an interior of the card shuffler; a card storage device positioned and configured to receive cards from the card input and temporarily store cards within the interior of the card shuffler; a card output positioned and configured to remove shuffled cards from the card storage device and output the shuffled cards to the exterior of the card storage device; and a control system configured to control operation of the card shuffler, the control system including; a touch screen control panel configured to receive input information from an operator of the card shuffler and to output information to an operator of the card shuffler; and a player display mounted to the card shuffler, the control system configured to display information to players of a playing card game in which the card shuffler is used on the player display. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
-
10. A card shuffler, comprising:
-
a card input receptacle; a card output receptacle; a card input positioned and configured to input cards from the card input receptacle into the card shuffler; a card storage positioned and configured to receive cards from the card input and temporarily store cards within the card shuffler; a card output positioned and configured to move shuffled cards from the card storage to the card output receptacle; and a drip pan located and configured to divert fluid introduced into at least one of the card input receptacle and the card output receptacle to an exterior of the card shuffler. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game, comprising:
-
a card input positioned and configured to input cards into the card shuffler; a card storage device positioned and configured to receive cards from the card input and temporarily store cards within the card shuffler, the card storage device comprising a plurality of card storage compartments, at least a majority of the card storage compartments sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein; a card output positioned and configured to move shuffled cards from the card storage device and output the shuffled cards into a delivery tray; a control system configured to control operation of the card shuffler; and a printer operationally coupled with the control system, the control system configured under control of a program to cause the printer to print information onto a printable medium using the printer, the information usable in verifying a winning playing card hand generated by the card shuffler in a round of game play. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. A card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game, comprising:
-
a card input positioned and configured to input cards into the card shuffler; a card storage positioned and configured to receive cards from the card input; a card output positioned and configured to remove shuffled cards from the card storage and output the shuffled cards into a card delivery tray; and at least one light-generating device located within the card shuffler, the at least one light-generating device configured to generate light within the card shuffler, the light not used by any sensor of the card shuffler. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification